Kaieteur News

Tell the nation how

much it has lost from the lack of ring-fencing

Attorney-at-Law and development has been ChainExpo.

Chartered Accountant, repaid. In the absence of this Ram however noted that Christopher Ram has called key provision, ExxonMobil the limited nature of the on ExxonMobil Guyana has been using the country’s engagement did not allow

Limited (EMGL), the profits to fund the Sakur the high standard operatorofGuyana’sprolific development of other which viewers across the StabroekBlocktoinformthe projects that are yet to world associate with his nationonhowmuchrevenue commence production flagship programme ‘Hard it has lost due to the lack of a activities. Talk’ To this end, he ring-fencingprovision. The 2016 Production challenged the Country

The prominent anti- Sharing Agreement (PSA) Manager to remove some of corruption activist in his allows Exxon to deduct 75% the more serious suspicions weekly column, published in of the country’s oil each and accusations against the the Stabroek News, ‘Every month towards cost; the companybyprovidingdirect Man, Woman and Child in remaining 25% is then split responses to issues in his Guyana Must Become Oil- with Guyana as profits. This column.

Minded’compiledalistof30 means that the country’s The Lawyer reasoned, questions for EMGL’s profit share is significantly “Mr Routledge is aware that Country Manager, Alistair reduced to allow for the Exxon will be the dominant Routledge. recoveryofcosts. playerinGuyanaforthenext

In an invited comment, In his 30 questions forty years or more and is no Ram told Kaieteur News he addressed to the President of doubt concerned about the was forced to raise his ExxonMobil Guyana, negative image associated concerns with the oil Alistair Routledge, the with the company and its c o m p a n y s i n c e t h e transparency advocate asked operations.Itisintheinterest government does not feel it Routledgetosaywhetherthe ofGuyanesetohaveanswers hasanyobligationtoprovide current or previous to burning questions about Guyanese with answers to administrations ever the 2016 contract, the the questions that are formallyraisedthesubjectof company’s operations and fundamental to the economy ring-fencing with the the unconscionable situation and the country. He said, company. of a country with a high “Surely they (Exxon) have Ram also enquired, poverty rate paying the taxes the resources to enable them “WhetherExxonacceptsthat of one of the world’s top to obtain and pass on the the Government of Guyana companies.” answers.” has the power to set He added that the

In his column published conditions on the granting of Country Manager must also on March 29, 2024, Ram a Production Licence, beawarethatGuyanesehave asked Routledge to provide includingring-fencing.” arighttohavetheirquestions an estimate of how much In his preamble of his and concerns addressed, by Guyana has lost annually in column, the Attorney-at- those who are enjoying the Profit Oil since 2020, in the LawreasonedthatRoutledge benefits of the people’s absenceofring-fencing. entertained a brief interview patrimony “It cannot be too

A ring-fencing provision with Mr Stephen Sakur, a much to ask a major would require each oil renowned BBC journalist on beneficiaryofthatpatrimony project to pay for itself and Exxon’s operations in toprovideresponsesthatwill allow Guyana to benefit Guyana, on the sidelines of allaythefearsofthepeople,” from 50% of all the profits the Guyana Energy Ramconcluded. after the cost of the Conference and Supply (See questions on page 8)

UNCHRdefendsasking questionsofcorruption

The United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNCHR) has staunchly defended its line of questioningduringtherecent review of Guyana’s periodic report, rebuffing allegations of undue influence from Guyana’sOppositionparty.

Last Thursday, French Committee member Helene Tigroudja addressed concerns during a press conference, clarifying that questions were meticulously crafted based on credible sources and reliable be over viewed by the information available to the HumanRightsCommitteeas committee. She highlighted the monitoring body of the thatthemethodologyapplied covenant.” was consistent for all states During his March 21 party to the covenant, with press conference, Guyana’s queries tailored to address Vice President (VP) Bharrat pertinent human rights Jagdeo, that United Statesissues. nominated candidate

Tigroudja stated that the Laurence Helfer, a member committee utilizes public of the UNCHR mirrors the documents and information Opposition’s“propaganda.” to formulate inquiries. She M i n i s t e r o f added, “And the interest of Parliamentary Affairs, Gail the dialogue is not to accuse Teixeira appeared virtually any state and Guyana here in to represent Guyana at the thiscase.” hybrid session from March when it took office and in

The Committee member 18to20. 2020inresponsetoconcerns said too, “Sometimes we Onenotablequestionthat about its effectiveness and r e c e i v e d s o m e was posed to her by Helfer is asked which agency is now criticism and I can that in relation to public responsible for recovering understand that the state is frustration over Guyana’s stolenstateassets. not happy with the way we alleged failure to investigate He then followed up by draftourquestions.Butthese reports of corruption pointing out that the Human questions reflect some involving Vice President Rights Committee reiterates concerns and serious Jagdeo. In posing questions its “request for information concernswehaveintermsof about alleged corruption in on measures to ensure implementation of the Guyana, Helfer said that the prompt and effective covenant in the state party human rights committee i n v e s t i g a t i o n s i n t o So I would say it’s the logic understands that the current allegations of corruption and when the state does accept to Guyana Government had t h e p r o s e c u t i o n o f ratify an international dismantled the State Assets perpetrators”beforestating instrument, it also accepts to Recovery Agency (SARA) (Continued on page 14)

Attorney-at-Law and Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram

EMGL’s Country Manager, Alistair Routledge

French Committee member Helene Tigroudja

Laurence Helfer

Guyana’s Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo

Tel:

Mafia in Guyana

There are few Guyanese who harbor doubts that the UnitedStateshasthiscountryunderalmosttotallockdown and control. But the unthinkable came into the spotlight recently,whichmademagnificentAmericalooksomewhat midget-like.AmanfromtheMafia,wantedbyInterpol,was sharingspacewiththeUSEmbassy,socloseastobeinside thewell-fortifiedcomplexitself.Itmaybepositedbysome that the American government representatives are so focused on Guyana’s political affairs and commercial prospects that they failed to look after their own welfare first.

AmanontheradarofInterpolcomesallthewayfrom ItalyandtakesupresidenceandtheAmericansdon’tknow Iftheydon’tknowwhatisgoingonintheirownfrontyard, thenhowcantheykeeptheclosesttabsonNicolasMaduro ofVenezuela. ThePPPCGovernmentisalwaysreadytosniff outandchargewithoppressivepoweratGuyaneseidentifiedas hostile to the party’s interests (not the State’s),including lawabidingones Buttherewereallthegovernment’slayersupon layersofcovertandpublicoperatorscaughtasleepatthewheel Inviewofthemafiosi’sallegedlinkstolocalmoneypeopleand thenarcoticstrade,itcouldbethatspecialdispensations(‘hands off’status)werearranged Itwouldnotbethefirsttimenorthe last that some of the more influential forces in the PPPC Governmenthaveconsortedwithcriminalelements.Theresult hasalwaysbeenanotherblotonthiscountry’sreputation.Itis anothermarkonagovernmentthatgoestoextremelengthsto target those Guyanese perceived as threatening to its own credibility. But one that is reduced to a state of ignorance andimpotenceontherealdangersinthemidst.

Thecitizensofthiscountryhaveenoughtroublesoftheir own, the ones that are homegrown There are phantom networksoncecloselyassociatedwiththePPPCGovernment nowgoneunderground,planningtheirmoves,bidingtheirtime TherewasarecentUnitedNationsHumanRightsCommittee thatmet,andwhereoneofthehardquestionshadtodowithwhy the PPPC Government has failed to address allegations of corruptionagainstVicePresidentBharratJagdeo Awatching andlisteningworldwasremindedonceagainofwhatGuyanese live with, have their share of different beliefs about Senior Government Minister, Ms Gail Teixeira, MP, made a brave effort to represent her boss and guarantor to the best of her ability We at this paper think that it lacked any element of persuasivepower WhenthepeopleattheUNheardaboutthe filingofapolicereportandwhoshouldhavedoneso,theymust havekeptastraightfaceoutofregardfortheoccasion,andnot anything that Minister Teixeira said Because a police report wasnotfiled,theStateseemstohavewantedtheuglymatter that enmeshed a former head of state (and now the man in chargeofthecrucialoilportfolio)todieawayinthequickest possibletime

AtthetimeoftheallegationsbyaChinesebusinessman, therewasPresidentIrfaanAli,aleaderwhooweswherehe istothemanatthecenterofinternationalattention,Jagdeo, being his usual self The president was full of words, but hollow in genuine follow-up action Like all those who owe Jagdeo, and the man himself, they want this corruption allegationtogoitsway,andforthemattertobeover TheUN Human Rights Committee was not in a cooperative or submissivemood Crimes,allegationsofcrime,andrumoursof crimehaveallbeenaninerasableaspectofGuyana’spolitical framework Everygovernmentandalmosteveryleaderhashad somestainattachedtohim,somestenchthatsticks,somekey institutions of the State looked upon critically, even dismissively Itistheperfectenvironmentforforeigncriminals to take up residence here: possibly weakened leadership, compromisednationalagencies,andcomradestryinghard toprovideconvincingcover Guyanastrugglestodealwith itscriminalhordes,fromthestreetlevelonestothewhitecollar ones in high national offices. The last thing that Guyanese need in the current environment is the mafia beinghere.

PPPdoes not have a policy that puts Guyanese first

DEAREDITOR, ThePeople’sProgressive Party (PPP) does not have a policy that puts Guyana and Guyanese first Evidence abounds to prove the contention; the most recent beingtherecruitingofnurses from Bangladesh and additional outsourcing of free-funded tertiary education to do Coursera courseswhentheUniversity of Guyana’s (UG) students continue to pay for their education.

These state-funded overseas programmes are notthebulwarkonwhichour nation’s education development must stand Our education must be tailored for our unique needs. Instead, we see the government sacrificing the development of the capacity of UG and continuing to burden students with fee paying when education should be free from nursery to university, as promised to everyGuyaneseandoutlined in Article 27 of the ConstitutionofGuyana.

Ontheissueofrecruiting overseas nurses, Guyana doesnotneedtodothiswhen the nation has the available human resource to train and retain these professionals if the Jagdeo/Ali regime allows it The regime’s closure of the Charles Rosa Nursing School in Linden was not only myopic but a wicked political act to discriminate against a community which reflects solidpoliticalsupportforthe opposition.Theresultofthis is manifold: place a certain group of people on the breadline, stifle the professional ambition of some, deny the country needed skills and create a shortage to justify importation of a specific groupofpeople.

We must question the extenttowhichtheregimeis going to recruit foreign nurses and why it has ignored recruiting from CARICOM, including the Haitian nurses who are fleeing,extendingtheageof retirement in Guyana, or

inviting overseas-based Guyanese nurses to return. The belief is also held that should the Bangladeshi nurses complain about their working and living conditions the regime will move with haste to address these even as they continue toignoreourlocalnurses.

Also of concern is Government’s silence on whether the importation of these nurses is short term or has long term implications, theabsenceofknowingwhat systems will be put in place to ensure Guyanese are adequately trained and preparedtofillthenecessary v a c a n c i e s T h e implementation of a policy to recruit overseas nurses seesasimultaneouspolicyto force our nurses to leave by refusing to engage the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), who representthem,incollective bargaining to address their conditions of employment.

In the world’s fastest growingeconomynotonlyis the healthcare system in

shambles but the conditions of employment for these workers leave much to be desired.

The trade union communityisconvincedone of the intentions behind the importation of nurses is an act to place persons in the union’s bargaining unit to weaken the strength of the union and the demands of Guyanese workers, as a collective, to improve their conditions of work. The Bangladeshi nurses will be paid within US$700-$1000 per month which is tax free plus overtime These conditionsarebetterthanthe Guyanese nurses whose income is taxable, and also contravenes the tax law In the desire to recruit these nurses the regime is trampling the law and ignoring public service principles.

The health sector falls within the bargaining unit betweentheGPSU,Ministry of Health and Georgetown PublicHospitalCorporation

(Continuedonpage06)

Remembering Justice Bernard as a silent Champion of Trade Unionism

DEAREDITOR

The Executive Council andMembersoftheGuyana Public Service Union, join with the rest of Guyana, in expressing our deepest sympathy to the surviving relatives and dear friends of Retired Chancellor Désirée PatriciaBernard,JCCJ. Justice Bernard was a silent champion for the working class. Upon her appointment to the Supreme Court Bench, she remained open, and available in rendering much needed advise to the Guyana Public ServiceUnion.Herroleasa Judge, constrained her expressions of deeply held concerns for the plights faced by Women in the PublicService.

The relationship the GPSU shared with Justice Bernard was a special one. AttherequestofMr Patrick Yarde, President of the Union, Justice Bernard willingly prepared a legal opinion to our benefit. It examined the legal weight and enforceability of certain Articles in the Constitution of Guyana, and also C

Organization. This opinion, which is widely circulated by the GPSU,laterformedpartofa lecture delivered by Justice Bernard on the Union’s behalftoMembersoftheBar Association and Civil Society Organizations at its Headquarters,160Regent& Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Bourda, Georgetown Recently, on the issue of Collective Bargaining, we were able to gain guidance from the thoughtful opinion ofJusticeBernardinfilinga Constitutional Action to reaffirm this fundamental value enshrined in our Constitution. We await the fullhearingofthismatter Justice Bernard’s legacy for us is not the accolades, but it is the way she transformed the lives of ordinary people by standing against injustices everywhere. In the case of Shanique Myrie v The State of Barbados [2013] CCJ 1 (OJ)(R),shejoinedwiththe other Judges of the CaribbeanCourtofJusticeto enddiscriminatorytreatment of CARICOM nationals at

airports across the Region. Also, in the outstanding public law case of Cheryl Scotland et al v Seeta Ramlall, she brought comfort to a number of staff of the Supreme Court who faced unscrupulous sanctions at the hands of the then Registrar, and were evenplacedonthebreadline.

Recently, she continued her advocacy against injustices when she added her voice to calls for the confirmation of a Chancellor, and a Chief Justice for Guyana The Guyana Public Service Union recognizes that these twoofficesareofficeswithin the Public Service of Guyana, and wishes to state that the best way to honour the legacy of Justice Bernard,istoendthisdecade old assault on justice and proprietary TheUnionnotes that Justice Bernard was the first, and only female Chief Justice, and Chancellor of Guyana.Theconfirmationof the incumbents in the said offices will be significant in honouring Justice Bernard’s legacy of fighting for w o m e n , a n d t h e

disadvantaged. Earlier this month, on the occasion of International Women’s Day 2024 held under the theme ‘Investing in women: Accelerate progress’, the GPSUnotedthatprogressin this sense can be likened to the treatment of women in education, the world of work, the home, and in national decision making where their livelihoods and that of their families are affected.Weurgeuponthose responsible for national decision making, to not allow the rich legacy bequeathed to us by Justice Bernard to be rendered nugatory by our denial of Guyanese women, and the girl child their much deserved appointment to seatsofnationalsignificance inoursociety Weclosewith a quote from the notorious Ruth Badger Ginsburg who once famously said, “never underestimatethepowerofa girlwithabook.”

SleeponDésirée.

Sincerely

DawnGardener

FirstVicePresident Guyana Public Service Union

Govt must respond urgently to plight of Kumaka, Mabaruma residents

DEAREDITOR

I had occasion to visit Kumaka/Mabaruma last weekandwishtorequestthe government and its responsible ministries to look into and resolve the issuesraised.

Transportation to get to Kumaka, is the first major issue.Theprimaryissuesare inadequate facilities, overcrowding/size of vessel (MV Kimbia), extremely late departure, conditions under which passengers have to travel, and the extraordinarily long time it tooktoreachKumaka.

Scheduled to leave at 3:00 pm last Saturday, March 23, wharf staff were busyloadingandpackingthe ferry way past 8:30pm until

it finally departured at around 9:10 pm (this could quickly be addressed by loading the vessel earlier).

This meant that many of the passengers travelling from all around had to wait between 9 and 12 hours for final departure, incurring thousands of dollars in additional expenses feeding and looking after their children and families, includingafewelderlyfolks.

It was obvious the ferry was overcrowded, inclusive of elderly persons, children, infantsandrealwater-babies (unabletocreepasyet).The seating area was absolutely congested, exacerbated by the amount of goods passengers were allowed as carry-on luggage, numerous

boxes and heavily packed 100 pound bags piled along the front of the seating area.

It is important to note here that the problem is not that too many passengers or too much luggage was allowed on board, but that the MV Kimbia clearly did not have the capacity, and given the full 24 hours taken to arrive atKumaka,northefacilities, andisclearlyunfittoshuttle infants, children and the elderly The MV Kimbia therefore must and should immediately be replaced by one of the much larger vessels which ply the Essequibo-Supenaam route, with possible consideration given for another trip scheduledduringtheweekto accommodate cargo and

Lessons from chemical blast

DEAREDITOR

Massive fire erupts at Indonesian ammunition depot(SNMar30).

While no deaths were reported, the blast, because of its nature, is reminiscent of the August 2020 horrific devastation which enveloped the portside City of Lebanon, Beirut, resulting in deaths, injuries, homelessnessandbillionsin property damage The powerful blast was felt in

neighbouring countries in theregion.

From the report the Indonesianfacilitywasused tostoreexpiredammunition, which contained chemicals, itisalleged.

The Lebanon blast was as the result of poor storage andlaxsafetymeasuresofa large amount of ammonium nitrate, another chemical, stored in a portside warehouse for about six years. Both cases highlight

the dangers which have taken place when huge amounts of chemicals are stored in conditions not controlled, monitored or properly managed. There are lessons for those of us whouseandworkwithlarge amounts of chemicals to take the necessary precautionsandmeasuresto mitigateagainstcatastrophic consequences.

Sincerely

ShamshunMohamed

transportation demands of the Kumaka/Mabaruma residents.

Settling down to sleep forthenight(thetriplastjust around 24 hours, with the ferry arriving at Kumaka after 21:00hrs Sunday night ), families spread blankets and bedding and m a d e t h e m s e l v e s comfortable on the floor whilethoseableandwhodid bring hammocks, slung theseupovertheseatsofthe ferry (I counted around thirty on the way back.) Persons took up space lying down between the rows of seats,intheaisles,anywhere they could find space to lay down. Therewasabsolutely nopersonalspace.Spending some time in the jungle myself,Itooktothefrontof theferrynexttothevehicles, but was driven back inside bythecold. Makingmyway past the door, past the boxes and bags packed all through to the main section and steppingoverafewpersons, I stopped and rested my bucket at the feet of a sleeping child, looked at everyone spread all over the floor of the ferry, and resigned to sitting inside the door Gettingsleepyenough, Iheadedbacktothefrontof thevesselandsleptasbestas I could for the rest of the morning.

I here wish to commend all staff on board, who through years of experience seemed to have received special training from the Guyana Tourism Authority They remained in complete control, unfazed, and accommodating of everything that was unfolding before them for the duration of the trip.This seemed the most normal, routine thing to them Persons who were manning the snackette on-board the ferrycanattesttoeverything here.

The main point here is that given large number of children and infants along with elderly folks who have mobilityissues,12-24hours is way too long to spend aboard a congested area as theonedescribed.

Thesecondlargerissueis the absolute disregard paid t o r e s i d e n t s o f Kumaka/Mabaruma with specific emphasis on the dismal treatment and conditionsofAmerindiansin thearea.

If one is to use the condition of theAmerindian Hostel as an example, then theconclusionisatestament of neglect to the point of reinforcing poverty and underdevelopment of Amerindians I was reminded of the movie

Apocalypto where you were forced to watch the insane savagery and violence onscreenunabletodoanything. What I saw and what has apparently been transpiring a t t h e M a b a r u m a Amerindian Hostel and to people of Amerindian descent amounts to economic debauchery of the worst kind, something enduredbybothAfricanand Indian descendants following the end of slavery and indentureship, and it is something the current administration needs to immediatelyaddress.

To dramatize the condition of theAmerindian peopleinthearea,everyday around four to six young ladies,twoorthreeteenagers amongthem,someofwhom would have one or two children with them, would proceed to take up their special spot just off the road along the Mabaruma waterfront,northofthemain road leading out to Mabaruma Settlement, HorroSorro,etc.

Appearing mostly unkempt, they sit there for the most of the day, occasionally nursing the youngerchildren,apparently itseems,begging,everyday creating the perfect United Nationsphotoofpovertyand

(Continuedonpage06)

Jesus’handling of crisis, battles should serve as a motivator to all of us

DEAREDITOR

ResurrectionSundayhas and will always be a celebratory time of the year where we are brought together to revel and spread joy amongst ourselves, because as our Christian brothers and sisters believe Jesus Christ (Peace be upon Him) was risen through the grasps of death and into the light.

We, the Guyana Islamic Federation for Religious Solidarity and Human Development (GUYISFED) in association with the Electric Mosque’s Presentation of the Teachings of Islam and the Universal Peace Federation

Guyana, extends resurrection greetings to the nation of Guyana, His Excellency President Irfaan A l i a n d f a m i l y , distinguished members of the Government, the Opposition, and especially toourChristianbrothersand

sisters.

The end of Jesus’ (PBUH) journey — which was once filled with strife and constant battles, much like the times we are living throughnowshouldserveas aninspirationandmotivator forusall.

Rather than indulging in our daily distractions which unfortunately may have strayedusfurtherawayfrom whatResurrectionSundayis truly about Resurrection Sunday, as our Christian brothers and sisters believe, is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, butIimploreustolookatthe journey before, up until he was resurrected. We must remain steadfast and continue to trust in God and his plan as Jesus (PBUH) did, only then can we transcend emotions such as fearandanxiety

As we celebrate this weekend within the comfort of our homes or at the

beaches and parks, among family and friends We should take some time to pray for prosperity, a calm heart, and peace and for the world around us to once again be illuminated by the lightofGodAlmighty

Further, we take this opportunitytoencourageall kite flyers to stay safe by flying kites away from utilitypostsandpowerlines. We would also like to urge all drivers and pedestrians while on the roadways, especiallyournewhighways this long weekend to take special caution. We advise you to use safe driving strategies, adhere to the speed limit, do not take unnecessary risks, or drive under the influence of alcohol.

To guarantee the safety of yourself and those on the roadways, we ask that you pleasedoyourpart.

Sincerely,

HajjiDr.RoshanKhan

The need for improved fire prevention

DEAREDITOR, The announced investment in Amerindian Communities in the interior is very good news We must however remember that the fire service is in urgent needofimprovement,andpressurizedwater lines and sprinkler systems in buildings are still a major shortcoming Protecting children at school and in the dorms must remain a top priority for investment in the interior

Our Nation will never forget the horrors ofthetragedythattookthelivesofsomany children. We must not delay any further in

ensuring the improvement of our fire prevention&firesafetyprograms ItisCRG’s hopethatadditionalfundsforsuchaninitiative will be allocated for the benefit of our Amerindian communities in the near future Giventherecentsurgeinfiresinotherpartsof thecountry,itwouldalsobebeneficialtohave such an initiative throughout the country CRG encourages the Ali administration to relook at its budget to ensure that such an important initiative is properly funded and giventhepriorityitdeserves.

Bestregards,

Mr JamilChanglee

Guyana LegalAid Clinic mourns passing Justice Desiree Bernard

DEAREDITOR

The Guyana Legal Aid Clinic was deeply saddened to learn of Justice Bernard’s deathon28March2024.

AmongJusticeBernard’s numerousfirsts-firstfemale puisne judge, judge of appeal, Chief Justice and Chancellor of Guyana, and one of the first judges of the Caribbean Court of Justiceis that she was the first

chairperson of the Guyana Legal Aid Clinic. Justice Bernard was a founder member of the clinic and chairperson from its establishment in February 1993 until May 2001, when she left to join the bench of theCCJ. She guided the clinic through its early years with the same wisdom, composureandcommitment

to the rule of law that she always exhibited on the various benches on which shesat.

She remained a member of the clinic until her death. The clinic extends deepest sympathy to Justice Bernard’s family and friends.

Regards

Guyana Legal Aid Clinic

Govt must respond urgently...

Frompage05 underdevelopment of AmerindiansinGuyana.The grotesque, abysmal conditions of the Amerindian Hostel is best contextualized by considering that it is a duck farm, only in this case the ducks are the Amerindian and Venezuelans who have overtaken the Hostel well beyond its capacity so that families,water-babies,sleep on beds spread on the concrete a mere few feet from the semi-swamp the RegionalAdministrationhas maintainedinthecompound of the Amerindian Hostel. On the eastern/southern end of the swamp are a number of structures put up by persons desperate for long term accommodation, who have not been provided for bytheAdministration.

The main access to the Hostelisviaanapproximate 150-200 meter walkway which was rehabilitated acrossvarioussectionsupto the entrance of what is the duck pond of the compound of the Amerindian Hostel. The remainder of the w a l k w a y i n t o t h e A m e r i n d i a n Compound/duck pond mirrors the deliberate, willful neglect of the Regional Administration, is unlitatnightandinastateof

utterdisrepairtothepointof endangering unwary persons, with one section broken for close to 15 feet, forcing users to step down and walk on precariously placed boards on the lower frameofthewalkway Iwas fortunate that this was dry season. The solution for the condition of the Hostel is simple: utilize the space provided by the swamp to b u i l d a d d i t i o n a l accommodation and accompanying sanitary facilities If by western standards Amerindians are considered to be living in poverty, then I propose that all adult Amerindians be providedwithhouselotsand simple starter homes which they have the option to pay for and own for a nominal fee to be paid at their discretion Additionally, provisionofbasiceducation and clothing inclusive of adequate footware and family planning are critical, essential to avoid their womenfolk being trapped withmotherhoodatanearly age.

The last major issue requiring immediate attention is the absence of running water in the homes o f M a b a r u m a a n d surrounding communities, somethingwhichIwasmade tounderstandhasbeengoing

onforclosetothreeyears. If a few residents were able to solve this problem by drilling and sourcing water for themselves, weather conditions aside, there is absolutely no reason which the responsible engineers can produce not to have already long ago provided a solution to such an issue. I was made to understand residentsarebeingforcedto buytanksataround$50,000 each and pay $5,000 every four to five days to fill their tank, depending on size of the family, amounting to a l o s s o f $ 2 5 , 0 0 0$35,000/monthperfamilyin otherneededitems.

For the purposes of fairness, I invite President Irfaan Ali, Mr Bharrat Jagdeo, other ministers of governmenttoboardtheMV Kimbiaonitsnextscheduled visit to Kumaka, to visit the Amerindian Hostel walking the walkway into the c o m p o u n d o f t h e Amerindian Hostel, to consider the conditions under which residents there areforcedtolive. Andifthe President, Mr Jagdeo and other ministers, don’t think that they can live in the Hostel, then they should know that Amerindian residentscan’talso.

YoursFaithfully,

CraigSylvester

PPPdoes not have a policy...

Frompage04 (GPHC). The employer cannot arbitrarily circumscribethebargainingunitbyapplying new conditions of employment outside of what exists. Further, the employer cannot recruitandgivepersonscontractsthatarein contravention of the agreement between the twoparties.

The Bangladeshi nurses are also being advised by the government what measures they need to be put in place to ensure they become Guyanese citizens. As part of the Commonwealth, these persons will also be

eligibletovote.TheJagdeo/Aliregimeisnot onlylookingatdeviouswaystoensuretheir continuity in office but is creating two societies,andinthisinstanceoftheworking environment,seekingtoundermineanddisempower local labour The recruiting of foreign nurses has serious political and industrialrelationsimplications.Thereisno doubt in my mind the PPP is unaware its actionwouldbestokingconflictinthewider societyandamongtheworkingclass.

Regards

LincolnLewis

Corruption in high places

Awatching and listening world was recently reminded once again when Guyana came up for review before the United Nations Human Rights Committee of what Guyanese live with and have their share of different beliefs about- corruption in high places.

The UN asked about allegations of corruption against Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo. They did not specify, but many persons believe it has to do with Mr. Su. We believe that in addition to Su, the committee has other allegations against the sitting VP.

Senior Government Minister, Ms. Gail Teixeira, MP, made a brave effort to represent her boss and guarantor to the best of her ability. We at this paper think that it lacked any element of persuasive power. When the people at the UN heard about the filing of a police report and who should have done so, they must have kept a straight face out of regard for the occasion, and not anything that Minister Teixeira said. Because a police report was not filed, the State seems to have wanted the ugly matter that enmeshed a former head of state (and now the man in charge of the crucial oil portfolio) to die away in the quickest possible time.

Questions from Ram to Alistair Routledge:

From page 3

this requirement to allow for the Petroleum (Exploration and 17. Andfurther,confirmation the Government 50% of the construction of an Administrative Production)Act the authority for a that such costs are also not US$214 million which was

1. Shell had paid Exxon for Office,andwhateverelse?

Bridging Deed and state the name deductedasoperatingexpenses. therefore wrongly claimed, and if two farms-in the Stabroek Block, of the Government official with not,whynot? for a total of 50% interest. Can Mr. 6. Whether Exxon and its which Exxon negotiated such a 18. Would he provide an Routledge say how much was paid partners obtained from the deed? estimate of how much Guyana has 25. Would Mr. Routledge by Shell and whether the money Government approval of their joint lost annually in Profit Oil since confirm that the ministerial audit was credited to the accounts of the operating agreement, the date of 12. CanhestatetheroleofSir 2020 in the absence of ring- andtheGuyanaRevenueAuthority Guyanaoperations? such approval and the Minister Shridath Ramphal as Escrow fencing? audit for tax purposes are two whograntedthatapproval?

AgentundertheBridgingDeedand separateanddistinctaudits?

2. Can he also state for the whether he (Sir Shridath) was 19. Whether Exxon accepts edification of Guyanese, how 7. Whether the purported retained and paid by Exxon or the thattheGovernmentofGuyanahas 26. Can Mr Routledge state much Hess and CNOOC paid to takeover of Hess by Chevron Government of Guyana, and to the power to set conditions on the the quantity of proven petroleum Exxon for their 55% share in the constitutes an assignment by Hess meetEITIdisclosurerequirements, granting of a Production Licence, reservesoftheStabroekBlockasat Stabroek Block and whether those to Chevron for purposes of Article howmuchhewaspaid? includingring-fencing? theendofFebruary2024? sums were credited to the accounts 25 of the PetroleumAgreement for oftheGuyanaoperations? which approval of the Minister is 13. Is it correct that US$15 20. Has the Coalition 27. Mr Routledge must be required?

Mn. of the “signing bonus” of Government or the current aware that Mr Raphael Trotman,

3. The audited financial US$18 million was intended to Government formally raised with formerNaturalResourcesMinister statements of these three oil 8. Particulars of annual tax take the legal case against Exxon the question of ring has indicated that he would give companies (Exxon, Hess and credits claimed by Exxon in the Venezuela to the International fencing? evidence in any inquiry into the CNOOC) at 31 December 2015 USA in respect of its Guyana Court of Justice, the success of 2016 Agreement. Would Exxon showed a total expenditure of operationsandprovideevidenceof which would be a major benefit to 21. Former petroleum participate in any Commission of US$368 million, while the the GRA certificates of taxes paid, Exxon? minister RaphaelTrotman wrote in inquiry established by this companies claimed US$460 usedtoclaimtaxcredits. his book Destiny to Prosperity that government to look into the million as pre-contract costs

14 Wouldheagreethatitisa a named Exxon official was circumstances leading to the 2016 incurred up to that date.Would Mr 9. Would Mr Routledge complete misnomer to describe involved in the Cabinet Paper for agreement? Routledge present to the Guyanese statewhetherheconsidersareceipt the US$18 Mn as a signing the 2016 agreement. Would Mr public a reconciliation of this for taxes not paid by Exxon not bonus? Routledgeconfirmthenameofthat 28. Does Exxon consider that difference? only raises legal and ethical personasMr BrookeHarris? the exploration and production questions but violates the 15. There are four types of activities in the Stabroek Block

4 The Companies Act of OECD/G20 Framework on Base expenditure provided for under the 22. Has Mr Routledge read harmful to the environment and a Guyana only allows an external Erosion and Profit Shifting which Petroleum Agreement Can he the Clyde & Company report into breach of the Paris Accord? If yes, company to hold an interest in requires large companies to pay a provide details of any expenditure the 2016 Agreement, and does he what measures are in place to land with the approval of the 15%effectiveminimumtaxrate? under the categories “Costs have any disagreement with the mitigatesucheffects? President Would Mr Routledge recoverable only with Approval of facts set out therein, including the identifythePresidentwhogranted 10. TheLawsofGuyanaonly the Minister” and Costs roleofMr Harris?

29. What is the estimated that approval to lease land in allow the petroleum minister to “recoverable subject to the total cost of the gas-to-shore Ogle? grant to any company a single approvalbyMinister”overthepast 23. Whether he as the project and is any cost being petroleum agreement. Would Mr fouryears? President of Exxon had confirmed chargedagainstOilRevenue?

5. Under its lease from the Routledge state the statutory basis that Mr Bobby Gossai had the Government of Guyana, Ogle for a second agreement over the 16. Would he provide a necessary authority to clear

30. Wouldtheproceduresand AirportIncispermittedtosub-lease same area even before the first statement of the annual costs of US$211 Mn. of US$214 Mn. not the valuation of private property land only for narrowly defined Agreementhadexpired? petroleum deducted from Gross supported by evidence provided to compulsorily acquired for the activities Can Mr Routledge Revenue for purposes of royalty theauditors? projectcomparabletohoweminent identify the government official 11. Can he identify for payment to Guyana under Article domainoperateintheUnitedStates who authorised the exemption from Guyanese the provision in the 15.6oftheAgreement?

24. Has Exxon agreed to pay ofAmerica?

IDB loan to purchase

street lights

The government through the Ministry of Housing and Water - Central Housing and PlanningAuthority(CH&PA)isgearingupto use a portion of the US$63.5 million InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) loan to purchase a number of solar street lights for housing areas on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD).

ThisisaccordingtoanInvitationForBids (IFB) issued by the Ministry of Housing and Water AccordingtotheMinistry,Guyanahas receivedfinancingfromtheIDBfortheRoad Goods financed by the IDB and is open to all Network Upgrade and Expansion Program eligiblebidders. (Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility ItwasreportedinthemediathattheBank Programme, LO-2741/BL-GY), and it had agreed in 2017 to provide US$63.5M to intends to use part of the proceeds towards fund Government’s Adequate Housing and thisproject. UrbanAccessibilityProgramme.

Kaieteur News understands that the According to the loan agreement, this project is for the supply and installation of support will help vulnerable households, solarintegratedLEDstreetlights.Theproject including those led by single parents, and isdividedintotwolots. those living in structures that are not

The Housing Ministry noted that the habitable. In special occasions, families may delivery/ construction period of the contract also opt to relocate to serviced and is210daysperlot. transportation-accessibleCH&PAsitesinthe It should be noted that billing will be projectarea.

conducted through the National Competitive Further, the objective of the reformulated Bidding procedures specified in the IDB’s projectistoimprovethequalityoflifein policies for the Procurement of Works and (Continued on page 16)

$394M to upgrade Ebini/ Kimbia access road

Bids are now open

- engineer estimates

Procurement Act 2003 and f o r t h e Regulations2004.

rehabilitation of Prospective bidders are

30 kilometres encouraged to inspect the access road Ebini/ Kimbia, bidding documents and seek R e g i o n 1 0 ( U p p e r further information from the Demerara-Berbice) The ProcurementOfficeatNDIA engineer estimates that this during regular working project would cost $394 hours.Biddocumentswillbe million. available starting April 2,

T h e M i n i s t r y o f 2024, and can be obtained Agriculture through the from the NDIA office National Drainage and cashier’scageuponpayment Irrigation Authority (NDIA) of a non-refundable fee of hasissuedtwoInvitationsfor $3,000. Bids (IFB) for the Ebini/

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha

All submitted bids must Kimbia access road as well include valid certificates of as the construction of an compliance from the access road at Canal No. 2 Manager of the National Conservancy Dam, West Insurance Scheme (NIS) and of the National Procurement Bank Demerara, Region the Commissioner of the and Tender Administration Three (Essequibo Islands- Guyana Revenue Authority Board(NPTAB).Biddersare West Demerara) This (GRA) Additionally, bid required to provide one hard project is estimated to be security equivalent to the copy and two electronic $145.770million. specified value in the bid copies of their tenders,

Interested contractors document is mandatory to adhering to the National have until April 23, 2024, to ensure the seriousness of the Committee Bidding (NCB) submittheirbidsattheoffice bids. procedures outlined in the

The Water Tank and Poverty Reduction

Th e c u r r e n t drought plaguing Guyana has further highlighted the criticalroleofwatertanksin ensuring water security, particularly in remote and underserved areas like the Rupununi.

Last October, President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali made a commitment to address water challenges in 58 Miles, Region Ten, by providingwatertanksduring the extended dry season. Duringhisrecentvisittothe Rupununi over the Easter weekend, the President announced interventions, including the distribution of water tanks, to alleviate the issues exacerbated by the prolonged and severe dry weather However, the distribution of these tanks mustnotbeviewedsolelyas areactivemeasuretoaddress immediate water shortages; rather, it should be seen as a proactive intervention to tackle poverty and promote equitable access to essential resources.

Historically, especially during the hardships of the 1980s and 1990s when Guyanese grappled with disruptions to their potable water supply, often stemmingfrom blackoutsor low water pressure, these black water tanks emerged as a source of much needed relief from having to fetch water long distances or in bucketsfromyardpipes.

Whocaneverforgetthat era when in rural communities, Guyanese were forced to use carts to fetch water at the time as muchastwomilesfromtheir homes. Who can forget that time when poor households

were littered with buckets and every conceivable containerinwhichwaterwas filled to allow for daily and routine household chores and tasks such as washing dishesandclothesandtaking baths There are few Guyanese of the older generation, especially those who are poor, who did not havetowakeupearlytohelp fetch and collect water for their households, including to take their baths to go to school or work. Collecting water was major household activity in those difficult times.That era underscored the vulnerability of local householdsrelyingsolelyon c e n t r a l i z e d w a t e r distribution systems In response, individuals and households turned to water tanks as a reliable alternative These tanks offeredthedualadvantageof collecting rainwater and storing water from the mains, providing a buffer against unreliable water services.

But Guyanese are ingenious people In response to the water crisis, theytooktostoringwaterin plastic barrels and metal drums, expanding the storage of rain water collection and storage and thencameupwiththeideaof investing in black water tanks to collect and store water The distribution of water tanks should become national in scope and especially as a means to combat poverty It is an unfortunaterealitythatmany economicallydisadvantaged families lack access to reliable water sources, exacerbating their vulnerability to water-

related crises The governmentshouldavoidthe wild-west distribution of water tanks It should conduct comprehensive surveysineverycommunity to identify households without water tanks. This data-driven approach not only ensures targeted assistancebutalsofacilitates the creation of a robust database for future interventions, and at the same time guards against abuseofthesystem.

The resources for this exercise should come from the monies that the governmenthassetasidefor cost-of-living relief. These monieswouldbebetterspent if they are diverted to poverty reduction efforts such as the distribution of water tanks to poor households.Thedistribution of water tanks holds immense potential as a povertyreductionstrategyin Guyana. By addressing the fundamental need for clean water, these tanks empower households to pursue economic opportunities and improvetheirqualityoflife. In communities where fetching water is a timec o n s u m i n g c h o r e , particularly for women and children, the presence of water tanks alleviates the burden of daily water collection. This newfound time and energy can be redirected towards education, incomegenerating activities, or other productive pursuits, thereby helping to breaking thecycleofpoverty

But there are also other benefitstothedistributionof water tanks to the poor Access to clean water is

DEM BOYS SEH

De lines become blurrier

Dem boys seh dis ting nah adding up. De lines betweenpartybusinessand government business are becoming blurrier When de GS holds he press conference, is like is more government business dan partybusiness.

Now, yuh see, dis GS fella supposed to be busy worrying ‘bout party matters. And talking bout dem matters. But dis man deh moving like James Bond. He poking he party nose into areas he should not be prying into, including about matters of nationalsecuritydatshould not be discussed with any oreverybody,muchlessbe

made public in he capacity asGS.

Dem boys hear seh dis GeneralSecretarygoneand tell di whole world ‘bout what he was told about some senior police officer gettin’questionedbydiUS authorities Like really, who di man think he is, di town crier spreading di newsfarandwide?

Even if he was told certain things as Vee Pee, he nah gat no right raising such issues at a party press conference. But as said before, there is hardly any distinction now between party matters and government matters when it comes to dem press

paramount for maintaining proper hygiene and preventing waterborne diseases.

Byprovidinghouseholds with water tanks, the risk of illness stemming from contaminated water sources is significantly reduced, leading to improved health outcomes and reduced healthcare expenditures. To prevent the exploitation of distribution efforts by the affluent–andmanyofthem love to cash-in on government freenessmeasures must be

implemented to safeguard against misuse. Water tanks shouldbemarkedtoprevent resale, thereby ensuring that they serve their intended purposewithintheidentified households. Strict penalties should be enforced for any attempts at circumventing these regulations, deterring profiteeringattheexpenseof vulnerable communities The distribution of water tanksmustthereforebeseen as more than just a response to immediate water shortages.Itcanbecomepart of government’s holistic

approach to poverty alleviation – an approach which at present is woefully deficient.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)

conferences.

Last time dem check, we gat a Minister of Home AffairsandaPresidentwho supposedtobedealingwith security business, not di General Secretary of di PPP!It’slikedimanforget which hat he supposed to wear at dem press conference.

Dis GS need to stick to partybusinessandleavedi security matters to de competent officials Otherwise, we nah gan know de difference between a party press c o n f e r e n c e a n d government press conference. Talkhalf.Leff

AyotallahAli,ArchbishopEdghill, PanditPersaud-standforwhatissacred

The Hon Gail Teixeira, someotherstrangecardslost of the independent media

Imagine this: the party of Greeks had them, and the Then there is the Minister and MP will go in the layers of cloth. One and suppress its messages, Cheddi is a nazi entity Americans and British (and archbishop of Robb Street, down as a fighter when a card had to do with the there is a colleague of Ms. Indeed, the local man in the soon to arrive French) have Juan Edghill, a man of the credible history of Guyana’s media, and the PPP Teixeira, a cabinet minister PPP cabinet has done his them. The test of honorable cloth I am told. From this politics is written. To my G o v e r n m e n t ’ s andlawmakernoless,whose dirty jobs too well; he is menandwomenofdignityis vantage point, sir, it looks dismay, the same Ms mismanagement of it. I say name is always mentioned reported to have the what they do about them. like a trip to the laundry Teixeira was a flop, a total maiming it, mangling it. So, when the Fourth Estate is s p o n s o r i n g a n d Not what use they make of should be a priority failure in her representations Icastmyeyesawayfromthe defiled through scurrilous championing, as well as them, or what about what Discoloration, dear (misrepresentations are grandly gifted MP Texeira attacks. inciting, of those in abominations they applaud archbishop Edghill, comes more on the money) before and towards some of her His fingerprints and leadership positions. Those in them. It is what honest from rubbing shoulders with the UN Human Rights comradesinthePPP,threeof voiceprints are all over PPP who are bald of ethics, and menandesteemedwomenin those who infest murky Committee(UNHRC). these incomparable media monstrosities, with bald of standards and government do about them, shadows. Theshadowofthe To her credit, she tried luminosities, who give new the minister now a monster character The noble art of the Goebbels in their bosom. valley of darkness (death) valiantly with the losing meanings to the brightness of Germanic proportions politics will always have its This leads me to introduce written so majestically about hand dealt her; to her generatedbyLED. For the slow minded, I bad dudes, its dirty warriors the three brethren (that they in the 23rd Psalm. I can discredit, her sleeves were a First, in continuous present Goebbels, the who are best hidden from are)inthePPP,andhowthey a l w a y s a g r e e w i t h shade too long: there were attemptstooppressmembers Guyanese Goebbels sight. The Romans and have failed. If Guyanese archbishop Edghill that flay me for employing Jesus’scompanywassinners certain words (honest and and tax collectors. But not esteemed) in the context of revilers, lordship. Not the government and its scorners and scoffers, O people, I stand bowed, and Eminent One in the PPP. absorbmyblows. God’s name loses luster

The three stalwartsin the among men when his PPP are Dr. Irfaan Ali shepherds falter, yield to (ayatollah), Doctor of party interests ahead of DivinityJuan Edghill spiritual ones. Archbishop (archbishop) and Dr Edghill now stands duly VindyaPersaud (pandita) informed.

My fellow citizens should Next, there is the Hindu immediately notice the priestess, Dr Vindya single thread that connects Persaud. In the name of them. The spiritual it is, and Rama, Shiva, and Laxmi, though the PPP has become where have the immaculate increasingly godless precepts of dharma fled? capitalists,it still applies Thiscanneverbe,shouldnot For those who ponder the everbe,thekindofcompany connection to the UNHRC kept. Despitesomegrievous and media mayhem in missteps, some hopes Guyana,patienceispleaded. stilllinger here I pinned President Ali is prone to ayatollah Ali to his suras; don his traditional garb and represent them impeccably, knows his suras It is sir I attached archbishop a s t o n i s h i n g a n d Edghill to his gospels; live embarrassing (to me) that a them well, grand duke of the leader and believer could church I now encircle stand what his cabinet pandita Vindya with her colleague has come to sutras. Don’t give up on embody, his manifestations what pristine divine of shaitan when the media standardsdemand. Itismore just must be silenced. The righteous to let go of those Prophet Muhammed who offend the sensibilities (Blessed be his name) would of both man and God. And be incensed. Ayatollah Ali the UNHRC. Stand pandita should listen to this voice of Vindya for the Brahminic an infidel calling from the and Vedic exquisiteness that wilderness: do not allow is preached to devotees thine own self to be so Stand for what is clean and besmirched, my liege. I pure. Distance from the acknowledge that Dr foulness that tarnishes this Irfaan’s stomach for the nation, what tortures this profaninghas grown government To all fourincreasing resilient. But it brethrenAliandEdghill,and shouldn’t have to house so sisters Texeira and Vindya-it much that is toxic. And is why I can stand anywhere revolting. Look at what the before anyone and assert UNHRC did to Guyana (and anything. Be about what is the PPP Government) true Be true to some There is only so long that cleanliness. pretenses at ignorance will (The views expressed in last, cap’n. Check on the this article are those of the trouble that visited Cde Gail, a u t h o r a n d d o n o t and the arsenic that is bhai necessarily reflect the Jagdeo’s bitter brew What opinions and beliefs of this he used to relish now n e w s p a p e r a n d i t s ravages. affiliates.)

Chevron confident in securing Hess’ 30% stake in Stabroek Block despite Exxon, CNOOC challenge

Chevron Corp. is optimistic in

believe that the Stabroek ROFR specified dates outlined in the winning a stake in the prolific does not apply to the merger due to agreement. Despite an initial end Stabroek Block following its the structure of the merger and the date set for April 18, 2024, both purchase of Hess Corp. which it is language of the Stabroek ROFR companies have waived the hoping to finalise by mid-2024. provisions.” termination right associated with Chevron said it is confident despite

Furthermore, the company thisdate. challenges by consortium partners, reiterateditsintentiontovigorously H e s s h a s s i n c e a l s o ExxonMobil and China National defenditspositioninthearbitration acknowledged the possibility of OffshoreOilCompany(CNOOC). proceedings.Itshouldbenotedthat Guyanese authorities asserting Chevron takeover of Hess if the arbitration does not yield a approvaloverthemerger,thoughas Corporation entails it assuming confirmation that the Stabroek of the latest update, no such controlofHess’stakeinStabroek,a

ROFRisinapplicabletothemerger approval is anticipated. “As of the significant offshore block and if an acceptable resolution is d a t e o f t h i s p r o x y Currently, ExxonMobil operates not reached among Chevron, Hess, statement/prospectus, the parties the block with a 45 percent interest Exxon,and/orCNOOC,themerger do not anticipate that any such through Esso Exploration and agreement’s closing condition approval will be required from any Production Guyana Ltd., while wouldnotbefulfilled. Guyanese governmental body, Hess subsidiary Hess Guyana

Mike Wirth is chairman of the board and chief executive officer (CEO)of Chevron Corporation

Corp

In such a scenario, Hess would agencyorauthority”,readtheletter Exploration Ltd. (HEGL) holds a remain an independent public Meanwhile, in the United States, 30 percent interest. Additionally, company,retainingitsparticipating bothChevronandHessareactively venturer from selling a stake to an arbitration cases into one, with the ChinaNationalOffshoreOilCorp’s interest in the Stabroek Block. The working to navigate through the outside party without first offering authority administering the CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Ltd. Stabroek Block is at present anti-trust review process by the thestaketothepartner arbitration confirming the retainstheremaining25percent. estimated at over 11 billion barrels Federal Trade Commission, as Subsequently, ExxonMobil on consolidationonMarch26,2024.

ExxonMobil commenced of oil equivalent, with a number of disclosedintheletter March 11, and CNOOC, on March In a recent missive to its arbitration proceedings on March 6 appraisals underway for newer Despite the complexities, Hess 15, filed for arbitration with shareholders Hess said it remains before the International Chamber discoveries that will revise the expressedconfidenceintheclosure opposingclaims. resolute with Chevron to finalise of Commerce tribunal, arguing that proven crude reserves upwards. timeline According to reports These cases have been their merger by mid-2024, despite a pre-emption right outlined in the Regarding timelines and potential however, an internal email sent to officially confirmed in filings with theongoingarbitralproceedings.In Stabroek joint operating agreement termination clauses, Hess clarified employees on March 6, 2024, the U.S. Securities and Exchange thatletteraddressedtoshareholders (JOA) applies to Chevron’s that either Chevron or Hess could cautioned that the consummation Commission (SEC). To streamline and attached to a recent regulatory acquisition of Hess. This right terminate the merger deal if could face delays due to the the process, Hess revealed that disclosure by Chevron, Hess enables a partner to prevent a co- completion is not achieved by arbitrationprocess. CNOC agreed to consolidate the asserted, “Chevron and Hess

Golden Grove men dropped gun on seeing cops

At about 21:00 hrs on Saturday, Police ranks on the East Coast of Demerara were on mobile patrol duty at Section ‘C’ Golden Grove, where a group of men were seen limingata‘culvert’.

On seeing the Police patrol vehicle approaching them, they ran in different directions, during which one of the men dropped a bulky plastic bag. Police ranks checked the bag and discovered that it contained one .38 revolver without any rounds in the chamber The firearm will be processed for fingerprints, police said in a pressrelease.

The rusty weapon retrieved by policemen

UNCHR defends asking questions...

From page 3 aboutit,theywillraiseitdirectlywithus.We

“The committee is aware of public have that engagement often with the senior frustration regarding for example the failure leadership from the White House and from to investigate reports of corruption by Vice the State Department, from Treasury… PresidentBharratJagdeo”. everywhere else. These matters have never Helfer did not say what alleged corrupt surfaced even after, you recall, APNU sent practices Jagdeo is accused of but Minister Vice President [Kamala] Harris a long Teixeira in her response spoke of a Vice dossier they had at the Washington News article that accused him of using a conference. They met with them here and Chinese businessman, , Zhi Rong Su to they raised all the same issues about racism “cashbribesforgovernmentcontracts”. She andwe’recorrupt,andeverythingelse.” said, “…there was no follow-up because “I think the US is not saying it is their there was no police report made by Vice representative but they represented him News or anybody else and so police cannot [Helfer], but you act in your own capacity investigate without some form of report or onceyouarethere.Soitisnotapositionthat complaint.” you are representing the United States of

“However, the VP has answered this America or anybody I believe he is from issue publicly several times in the same New York and the contamination was media that has carried these reports”, there… If you read who the members are, Teixeiraadded. they are operating in an independent

At his press conference, Jagdeo capacity… I think they’re stupid questions. expressed skepticism about UNCHR They did not have to be asked, but they were member Helfer, stating that he does not asked It was propaganda from the believe that the US is concerned about Opposition that made its way up to that corruptionallegationsagainsthim. Committee…” the Vice President Jagdeosaid,“IfWashingtonisconcerned contended.

GECOM’smake-upisnotall inclusive-UNCommittee

The United Nations (UN) Human Rights is also concerned that persons with Committee in its concluding observations on disabilities are not adequately included, the third periodic report of Guyana has noted supported, and trained to exercise their right its concerns with regards to the structural to vote. The committee also pointed out that make-up of the Guyana Elections prisoners and pretrial detainees continue to Commission(GECOM). bedeprivedoftheirvotingrightsinpractice.

In its report published last month, the UN As a result, the UN recommended that committee noted that while it welcomes “the State reviews and revises the electoral efforts made to amend the electoral laws to system to guarantee full compliance with its advance a smoother elections process in Covenant,particularlyArticle25thereof,and Guyana, the structural make-up of the in the light of the guidelines for States on the country’s electoral machinery —GECOM— effective implementation of the right to stilllacksinclusivity participate in public affairs, to ensure equal

TheCommitteesaiditisconcernedabout enjoyment of the right to participate for all the partisan structure of the GECOM, citizens, irrespective of ethnicity, and excluding members from other parties and eliminate any unclear or vague provisions in indigenous peoples, and therefore, it in its the electoral regulations that may impede the view impeding it from effectively and system’stransparentandfairoperation.” independentlyimplementingitsmandate. Additionally, the UN Human Rights

While it notes the improvements in the committee recommended that the State takes electoral process, the Committee outlined in all the measures necessary to ensure that its report that it remains “concerned that the GECOM is impartial and independent of electoral system is exacerbating the existing politicalpartiesandisabletoexerciseitsrole dual ethno-political polarization and asaguardianofdemocraticpluralism. contributing to the political marginalization “Ensure that voting rights are made of other ethnic minorities and indigenous accessible to all citizens, including persons peoples.” withdisabilitiesandpersonsdeprivedoftheir

Furtherinthereport,thecommitteesaidit liberty,”theUNcommitteesaidinthereport.

John Hess, chief executive officer of Hess

The Guyana Elections Commission Headquarters in Kingston

UN committee raps Govt. over abuse of prisoners

-

cites overcrowding, harsh life-threatening conditions

Wh i l e are mandated to regularly measures as an alternative to recognising inspect prisons and imprisonment, as outlined in the efforts of investigate prisoners’ the United Nations Standard

The UN human rights committee expressed concern about overcrowding in Guyana’s Prisons

the State in complaints. minimum rules for nonaddressing overcrowding in T h e c o m m i t t e e custodial measures; improve prisons, the United Nations recommended that the State the conditions of detention, (UN) Human Rights should ensure that the and ensure adequate access Committee rapped Guyana conditionsofdetentionarein to healthcare, clean water, on what they termed harsh compliance with relevant and natural light for persons and life-threatening international human rights held in all places of conditions in the country’s standards. “In particular, the deprivation of liberty; prisons. State party should: facilitate independent, According to the harmonize laws and policies effective, and regular committee those conditions on the detention of prisoners monitoring of all places of i n c l u d e , s e v e r e with the United Nations detention without prior overcrowding, and physical Standard Minimum Rules n o t i c e a n d o n a n abuse, lack of access to for the Treatment of unsupervised basis, adequate medical care, Prisoners,” the committee including by establishing an potable water, sanitary recommended. independent mechanism to conditions, and limited In its report, the UN mon itor th e pr is o n sunlight. The human rights committee also suggested conditions and providing custody ” The report is treatment of persons conducted by the Prison committee noted that it is that the State “takes mandatory training for released just days after a deprived of liberty In the A d m i n i s t r a t i o n i n also concerned by reports of immediate measures to relevant law enforcement delegation from Guyana led fewinstanceswhichthestate collaboration with the the lack of transparency, significantly reduce officers as well as judges, byMinisterofParliamentary shared where such reports MinistryofHealthonhowto accountability, and overcrowding in prisons, prosecutors, and other legal Affairs and Governance, havebeenreceived,thecases prevent contracting the virus independence of the prison including through the wider professionals regarding Gail Teixeira faced a series were taken to the courts and and identifying the visiting committees, which application of non-custodial prevention of deaths in of questions from the UN the perpetrators were symptoms.”

Govt. claims it spent over $313M on road upgrades in Manchester

Road upgrades in the community of Manchester

Several thoroughfares in Manchester, roaduserswithinthecommunity Region Six, underwent major rehabilitation

The impact of these infrastructural to the tune of $313.3 million, aimed at upgrades extends beyond school routes. The bolstering community development and $24 million upgrade to Third Cross Street, improving accessibility and connectivity to East of Manchester Secondary School, and enhance the livelihood of residents, the the $18 million investment at Fifth Cross government controleld Department of Public StreetWestofMiddlewalkLiverpoolVillage, Informationsaid. arepoisedtomakeasignificantimpactonthe

The project is part of a broader effort by daily lives of residents Similarly, the Ministry of Public Works’Miscellaneous rehabilitation works were executed on the RoadProgramme,whichhasseensubstantial First Cross Street and Hogstye main access investment in infrastructure works across road, to address longstanding issues of road various communities in the region, DPI quality and safety Hundreds of residents and addedinaSundaybulletin. road users will benefit from reduced travel

This includes the rehabilitation of First time and accessibility These projects are Cross Street, West of Manchester Secondary valued at some $17.7 million and $19.5 School, and Second Cross Street, East of million,respectively

Manchester Secondary School, each Additionally, the government invested receiving individual investments exceeding over $45 million for the rehabilitation of the $20million. Main Access, North and South, First Cross

Third Cross Street, West of Manchester Street, which will provide connectivity in the Secondary School was upgraded to the tune region. Works were also executed on the of$24.5million. MainAccess (Place ofWorship Street), Kuru

An essential component of this initiative Kuru College Street, Manchester, to promote is the rehabilitation of Manchester Nursery economic growth within the communities. School streets, encompassing both lot one These infrastructural upgrades are in line and lot two, with a combined investment of with the PPP/C Government’s vision to over $31 million. These projects hold the deliversignificantrelieftocitizensandfoster promise of providing a secure and accessible community and economic development environment for students, teachers, and all (DPI)

HumanRightscommittee. charged in accordance with “To combat the spread of

In response to the therelevantlaws.” the virus, the Prison observations of the Human Just days before this, Administration also Rights committee, the local news outlets reported a c o n t i n u e s w i t h i t s Government of Guyana chicken pox outbreak within comprehensive preventative issued a report rejecting the Lusignan prisons. The measures. These include the manyofthecontentions. Guyana Prison Service administrationofmedication

Initsreport,however,the (GPS) had disclosed that the such as Acyclovir and Government did not address Chicken Pox outbreak at the calamine lotion, increased t h e q u e s t i o n o f Lusignan Prison that during sanitation frequency, overcrowding in the prisons. the outbreak, 25 infections sunning out of mattresses The Government inter alia werereportedandonlyseven and clothing, sterilisation of stated that it “…strongly haverecovered. eating utensils and personal objects to the use of the term TheGPSreported“There items,vaccinationprotocols, ‘widespread’ “about reports is also a robust education, a n d d a i l y m e d i c a l of widespread torture or ill- and hygiene campaign being assessments.”

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Urgently needed dried carilla bush (any quantity). Call: 609-8281/ 693-3003.

Wanted! Male & Female workers preferably from WBD, for packaging pasta and chowmein. $4100 per day. Call: 611-7839.

Night Guard at Soesdyke area, Handyman & 1 Accountant Clerk with NIS/ payroll experience. Call: 2192170/ 708-4374.

One Handy person to work in the Interior. Call: 677-0869.

Female Domestic $4500, male labourer $ 5000 daily ,Semi skilled worker $6000 daily, Skilled worker $7000 -$8000 daily to work at Vreed EnHoop #682 5230,615 4414.

One Handyman and Driver/ Expeditor needed. Call: 2310363.

SERVICES

Business/ residential PFSGYD$58M, Visa Application, advertisements, graphics design, passport application forms & i130 application. Call: 626-7040.

Elevate your brand with our professional Graphic design services. For more information Call: 619-0007, 629-5526.

We repair & install fridge, freezer, washer & dryer, AC units, stove, etc. Whatsapp/ Call Omar: 683-8734/ 6549711.

For low cost repairs for AC units, refrigerators, freezers, gas stoves, washing machine, dryers, etc. Call: 6294946, 225-4822.

FOR SALE

One Painter needed. Call: 615-9132/ 645-8443.

One Plumber needed for Eccles. Call: 645-8443/ 6159132.

Waitress/ Room Attendant to work shift in bar at Soesdyke, EBD. Call: 644-6551/ 661-3608.

Receptionist, Deskstaff, Room & Laundry Attendant & Security Guard needed at 233, South Road Lacytown. Call: 225-0198.

Vacancy exists for one Daf truck Driver to work for a Construction Company. Call: 624-9505/ 656-0603/ 225-5818.

VEHICLES FOR SALE

Leyland DAF single Axle, model m with winch, Nissan 4 door Pathfinder. For more information Call: 644-6551/ 661-3608.

Toyota Hiace van panel for sale, price $ 2.7 mil neg. Call: 609-8281.

Tractor foreign used Massey Ferguson 283 $2.6M, Massey 165 $1.8M, Massey 135 $1.2M, Massey loader tractor $2.4M. Call: 6825230, 6154414.

1 Honda CRV, includes TV, music system, alarm, reverse camera, sproiler, crashbar, low mileage PTT Series (first owner). Contact: 6490956.

1 Toyota Allion, Pioneer DVD, CD & USB deck, reverse camera, alarm, low milage. Call: 649-0956.

FOR SALE/ RENT

1 Lexus SUV, forklifts 3.5 tons diesel truck weigh scales (60 tons,40 ft) . (new installed at your site) Low bed trailers-60 tons,triple axle. Call: 665-3880

Man to appear in court for alleged robbery at Supermarket

A 20-year-old man who is accused of being involved in an armed robbery at Hong Yuang Supermarket, Lusignan East Coast Demerara (ECD), was arrested on Saturday and is slated to appear before a court sometime this week.

A police source confirmed that the robbery incident occurred on Friday last, between 16:52hrs and 17:00hrs on the proprietors of the Hong Yuang Supermarket. The police related that two men, one of whom was armed with a knife and the other a handgun, both reportedly wearing surgical masks with hoodies over their heads carted off a quantity of GTT cell phone cards and two Samsung cell phones belonging to the proprietors.

A 52-year-old security guard of Friendship ECD, who is attached to the Omkar Persaud Security Service, was on duty at the time of the robbery. He told ranks that at about 16:52hrs on Friday, the suspects arrived at the supermarket on a motorcycle bearing registration number CL 5553. Both suspects reportedly came off the motorcycle and entered the supermarket and proceeded to the cashier, where they carted off with an undisclosed amount of cash and phone cards.

Police said one of the suspects relieved the proprietors of their cell phones. Thereaf-

ter, the suspects exited the supermarket and escaped the scene with the motorcycle. Notably, the area where the crime was committed was canvassed for Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras, several of which were affixed to the supermarket. The CCTV footage was examined, and the footage that captured the ordeal was extracted.

Kaieteur understands that the police patrol responded promptly after the matter was reported to Vigilance Police Station. As a consequence while the patrol was proceeding west along the Lusignan Prison Road, the suspects were spotted on the motorcycle, proceeding north. Rank gave chase and the pillion rider discharged several rounds in the direction of the ranks, who returned fire in their direction.

The chase extended all the way to Felicity, Railway Embankment, where the suspects lost control of the mo-

torcycle and fell into a nearby trench. Both suspects got up, left the motorcycle and began running and jumping several fences heading north into a busy area.

The ranks chased them further but the suspects managed to escape. The patrol party later went through the area where they (suspects) fell, and discovered one 9mm pistol, one magazine with six live matching rounds and one round in the chamber, (total seven), one Samsung cell phone, one black side bag containing a quantity of $20 bills totalling the sum of

Police finds Cannabis during raid exercise at Mahdia Arcade

Last week, police from Regional Divi sion #8 performed a ‘raid practice’ at numerous people’s residences, shops, and stalls in the Mahdia Arcade area, looking for illegal firearms, ammunition, narcotics, and stolen items, but nothing was discovered.

During the search, however police discovered two black plastic bags containing leaves, seeds, and stems presumed to be cannabis.

One of the bags was wedged between a wooden post and zinc, while the

FOR RENT

Motorcycle the bandits used to escape

The marijuana that were found in bag

$1,240 and one knife.

At about 22:25hrs, acting on information police later arrested a 20-year-old unemployed resident of Leopold Street, Georgetown who fitted the description of one of the sus pects.

He was told of the allegations, cautioned, arrested, and taken to Vigilance Police Station, where he was placed into custody to assist with the investigation. Police also interviewed the security guard since the CCTV revealed that he was ‘casual’ with one of the suspects. Investigations are ongoing.

IDB loan to purchase street lights...

From page 8

urban and peri-urban Georgetown through better access to adequate housing and basic infrastructure for low-income populations, and through improved accessibility and mobility services.

The specific objectives improve housing conditions and access to basic infrastructure for low-income communities; enhance urban and suburban mobility and safety; and strengthen national and local capacity to operate and maintain urban services.

House lots & commercial plot

sale available at

W.C.D. Call: 652-0251/ 650-0402.

All sizes loaders, excavators & rollers, concrete pump & mixer trucks, mobile crane and Howo 30 ton dump trucks. Call: 650-0402/ 652-0251.

Place to rent at Vreed-enhoop junction, for lessons, church, office, storage bond, other. Call: 603-6400.

622-6512.

other was discovered under an old mat in a garbage heap (an open place with easy access).

The two plastic bags of

cannabis were photographed, collected, transferred to the police, weighed, and found to be 120 grams and 25 grams, respectively.

This publication understands that under this same loan programme the Housing Ministry had awarded contracts in July 2022 for similar street lights for six low income communities in Region Three.

That project entailed the supply and installation of 80-watt stand-alone solar integrated street lights, with the lamp comprising of a solar panel, charge controller and battery.

The 9mm pistol and ammunition that were found

Cell phone that was retrieveda

Opposition fears foreign workers will be eligible to vote next elections

Leader of the A Partnership For National Unity, (APNU) party, Aubrey Norton has expressed concern over what he views as aploybytherulingparty to import foreign workers, whowillrampupitssupport baseintimefornextgeneral elections.

Speaking at a press conference last week, Norton pointed out that the Guyana Government’s confirmation that it has moved to hire 500 Bangladeshi healthcare workers is a tactical move whichwillbenefittheruling party’sagendainmoreways thanone.

Henotedthegovernment is choosing to import skills rather than pay its already highly trained public servantsbettersalariessince they are likely to excise better control over foreign workers.

“It should not be missed by Guyanese that the choice of Bangladeshi and Sri Lankanworkersisdeliberate since as citizens from the Commonwealth, in one year these migrants will become

eligible to vote in Guyana. Consequently, this is a clear attemptbythePPPregimeto use migrants to boost its fading popularity in its traditional strongholds,” Nortonadded.

While the opposition leader did not elaborate on the basis for his contention, Attorney at law and APNU member, Roysdale Forde explained that Norton’s concerns about the foreign workersshouldbeviewedas legitimate since under the Constitution of Guyana subject to the provisions of Article 159, every person mayvoteatanelectionifhe or she is of the age of eighteen years or upwards and is either a citizen of GuyanaoraCommonwealth citizen domiciled and residentinGuyana.

The lawyer noted therefore any citizen of the commonwealththathasbeen resident in Guyana for at least one year is eligible to voteinnationalelections.

Alluding to the law, the attorney explained that “subject to the provision, a personshallbequalifiedtoa beregisteredasanelectorfor

elections if on the qualifying date, he is of the age of eighteen years and upwards, is a citizen of G u y a n a o r t h e commonwealth citizen who is domiciled and resident in Guyanaandbeensoresident for a period of one year immediately preceding the qualifyingdate….”

He emphasized that the persons do not need to be from Bangladesh or Sri Lankabutanyoftheother56 commonwealth member

states. L a s t w e e k , t h e Government announced a move to approve the recruitment of 500 Bangladeshi nurses to work here. Government in recent times have been recruiting nurses from Cuba and other countries and reportedly paying them more than their localcounterparts.

In the letter which was signed by Minister of Foreign Affairs and

International Cooperation, Hugh Todd, the government confirmed that Sigma EngineersLtdastheagentto do the recruitment of 500 Bangladeshi healthcare workers for employment and liaise with the relevant authorities.

The approval letter found its way on social media, raising alarm about the deal, given that the government has been refusing to engage the Guyana Public Service

Union in collective bargaining to address the issue of increased pay for nurses and other categories of healthcare workers Persons have also raised concerns about the language barrier and question the competence of thenursestoberecruited

In response to the circulation of the approval letter on social media, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it issued the letter to confirm that the agency was authorised to recruit healthcare workers, with the viewofaddressingconcerns raisedbothbythepublicand private sectors on the severe

skills shortage in the health sector

“The Private Sector Commission has on numerous occasions requested the Government’s assistance in addressing the need to fill the skills shortages not only in the health sector but also in the critical sectors of construction, engineering, and services given the expansion and growth of Guyana’seconomy

In this regard, the recruitment agency was appointed to liaise with relevant authorities from various countries to recruit healthcare workers including, but not limited to Bangladesh.

It is within this context that the authorization letter wasissuedbytheMinistryto preventissuessuchashuman trafficking or any abuse of this process,” the statement read.

However, the ministry said to date no one has been recruited through Sigma EngineersLtd. Inc as shortages are currently being filled by personnelfromCuba.

Deadly birthday lime

...Oropune

( T R I N I D A D

G U A R D I A N ) A combination of alcohol, along with the noise emanating from an apartmentaboveatBuilding 16, Oropune Gardens, Piarco, are believed to be what led a suspect to kill a fatherandsononSaturday

Following the stabbing rampage around midday at the Housing Development Corporation’s (HDC) apartment complex at Fourth Avenue, Imtiaz Mohammed, 46, lay dead. Hisson,ImrazMohammed, 23,diedattheArimaHealth Facility a short while later; and his 17-year-old daughter, Nazeera Mohammed, was left nursing stab wounds to the head and upper body She was fighting for her life at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope, last night, after she took a turn for the worse yesterday Relatives receivedacallaround1pm indicating her vitals had worsened.

murder suspect celebrated with victims before attack

Meanwhile, 19-year-old

Nicholas Dimatos, of Building 15, who was stabbed in the lower back with an ice pick during the attack, was said to be in a stable condition at hospital lastnight.Thesuspect,who was arrested by officers of the North Central Division Major Crimes Unit minutes after the deadly incident, remained in police custody yesterday

Indicating that after joy really does come sorrow, Imtiaz’s daughter-in-law, Sera Charlie, 24, yesterday said the family intended to spend the holiday weekend camping, as he had celebratedhis46thbirthday on Thursday Charlie revealed that she and her h u s b a n d , I m r a z Mohammed, met her deceased relatives at a bar on Thursday, where they began the liming. Speaking with Guardian Media yesterday in the stairwell outsidetheapartmentwhere her relatives were stabbed on Saturday, she said the

family was in a celebratory moodforthelongweekend.

Pointing to the Mohammeds’ third-floor apartment,whichisdirectly on top of the suspect’s apartment in the building, Charlieadmittedthesuspect often complained of the noise created by the young children playing and running in the apartment aboveandhadspokentothe Mohammed family about it several times Other relatives present, yesterday, also said the Mohammed family had to caution the suspect about harassing Nazeera on more than one occasion, and there had been a constant “back and forth”betweenthem.

Despite this, it was claimed the HDC neighboursweresometimes seen liming and drinking together, as was also the case on Friday night Saturday’s killing spree tookplacearoundnoon,the morning after the Mohammed family and the suspecthadbeenlimingand

drinking.Charliesaid,“The bacchanal start to happen the night before the murders, as the man downstairscallhim(Imtiaz) backtoapologisetohimfor whatever he was saying to his daughter ” Charlie confirmed Nazeera had always complained of the suspectharassingher

They woke on Saturday morning to begin preparations for the camping trip. Charlie said Dimatosandawomanfrom the opposite building were standing on the landing when the drama began unfolding.

Guardian Media was told the first person wounded in the attack was Dimatos, who was dragged by the suspect down the stairswhilebeingstabbedin the lower back with an ice pick.“Whenmymother-inlaw went and wake up my father-in-law, he walked downstairs to see what was happening. And when he come back upstairs, he sit down in he place with the

bladesoifthemancome,he go have self-defence for himself.”

Frightened after the suspect and Imtiaz began quarrelling, she said as items were hurled back and forth, she rushed the children into the apartment to keep them safe. “When I comebackoutside,Iseemy brother-in-law lie down on thefloor hegetstabonthe headandhejustlyingdown, bleeding out,” she recalled.

“Mysister-in-lawgetstabin theheadandshoulders,and they corner daddy by the frontdoorandIseetheman back I feel if I had come outside, I woulda get stab too. Daddy couldn’t move fromwherehewas.”

Imtiaz died at the scene after being stabbed several timesinthebackbyaknife, while Imraz, who was reportedly stabbed with an icepick,latersuccumbedto his injuries Charlie described Imraz as “not all there” after he suffered brain damage at a tender age. Despite his disability,

she smiled as she recalled, “He used to be talking to himself so nobody coulda really communicate with him.

“But after I get to know h i m , w e c o u l d a communicate and me and himgetrealclose.Hewasa goodpersontome...Iused to call him brother-in-law and we understood one another.” Imtiaz, she said, was a nice, caring person whowasalwaysfocusedon ensuring his family’s needs weremet.

A d m i t t i n g t h e Mohammed family was now feeling unsafe, Charlie said, “I hadda be strong for mymother-in-lawandthem children ” The deceased menweresaidtohavebeen livingatthelocationforthe past 16 years, while the suspectreportedlymovedin several years ago and lived alone in the rented apartment.Autopsiesonthe Mohammed men are expected to be performed tomorrow at the Forensic ScienceCentre,StJames.

Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton

Ratherthanprovidingaid,theUS

shouldensureGaza

issubjected US tonuclearbombing - US senator says

(THE GUARDIAN) -

Rather than provide humanitarian aid in Gaza, the US should ensure it is subjected to nuclear bombing the way that “Nagasaki and Hiroshima” wereattheendofthesecond world war, a Republican congressman said in shocking remarks that were recorded recently at a gathering with a relatively small group of his constituents.

The comments by US House representative Tim Walberg of Michigan drew condemnation from progressive political quarters, including from some who expressed disbelief that a former Christian pastor would advocate for what they called the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza “A sitting US rep in a secret town hall feels comfortable musing privately about genocide,” said a user on Twitter/X who circulated video of Walberg’s comments late Friday A reply to that comment read:

“Exactly what Jesus would do,right?”

In a statement Sunday, Walberg argued that the media had misreported his

comments and set him up to be misinterpreted. Yet he said he was unapologetic about his belief that Israel should win “as swiftly as possible” Entries on Walberg’s congressional calendar–alongwithvideos on social media – establish thathemetwithmembersof the public in Dundee, Michigan, on 25 March. As Mediaite recounted Saturday, a clip of the session that was posted on YouTubeandothersites,and recorded by an activist, showed Walberg telling his audience that the US should not spend a “dime” on humanitarian aid in Gaza, where Israel has been carrying out a military campaignformonths.

The aid would be better spent on supporting Israel, which Walberg labeled the US’s“greatestally,arguably, anywhere in the world”. “It should be like Nagasaki and Hiroshima,” Walberg said, alluding to the Japanese citieswheretheUSdropped atomic bombs at the end of thesecondworldwar,killing hundreds of thousands of people,manyofwhomwere civilians “Get it over quick.” Walberg also spoke infavourofaffordingsimilar

treatment to Ukraine, which has been defending itself from a Russian military invasion since 2022. But Walberg said the purpose there would be to topple Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s forces expeditiously ratherthanspendthebulkof US “funding for Ukraine for humanitarian purposes” asthewartheredraggedout.

“Defeat Putin quick,” Walbergsaid.

Once video footage of Walberg’s pronouncements went viral, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (Cair) issued a statement d e n o u n c i n g t h e congressman’s declarations asa“clearcalltogenocide”.

“This … should be condemnedbyallAmericans who value human life and international law,” Cair’s executive director, Dawud Walid,saidinastatement.

Walid, whose group is theUS’slargestMuslimcivil rights organization, added:

“Tosocasuallycallforwhat wouldresultinthekillingof every human being in Gaza sends the chilling message thatPalestinianliveshaveno value.” Walberg on Sunday denied advocating for the use of nuclear weapons. He said the quicker Israel and

Ukraine defeat Hamas and Russia, respectively, “the fewer innocent lives will be caughtinthecrossfire”.

“In a shortened clip, I used a metaphor to convey the need for both Israel and Ukraine to win their wars as swiftlyaspossible,”Walberg said in part in a statement that did not address how to avoid killing civilians with nuclear bombs. “The use of thismetaphor,alongwiththe removalofcontext,distorted mymessage,butIfullystand bythesebeliefsandstandby ourallies.”

Israelbegancarryingout an air and ground onslaught in Gaza after Hamas attacked on 7 October, killing more than 1,100

Israelis and taking hostages.

The military strikes in Gaza havekilledmorethan30,000 Palestinians,andtheUSsaid Friday that the Israeli campaign had probably already pushed the area into famine.

Some of the Joe Biden White House’s fellow Democrats have been increasingly pressuring the president to cut off the almost $4bn in military aid that the US provides annuallytoIsrael,whichhas persistently hindered the delivery of humanitarian reliefinGaza.On26March, the US abstained from a UnitedNationsvotethatsaw 14 other members ratify a resolution demanding an

immediateceasefireinGaza, leavingIsraelnearlyisolated ontheglobalpoliticalstage.

Nonetheless, within days, Reuters reported that Biden’s administration had authorized the transfer of billions of dollars worth of bombs and fighter jets to Israel,whomRepublicansin the US like Walberg generally support steadfastly. “We should be resourcing Israel just like they want to,” Walberg said in part at the meeting in Dundee. Walberg was first electedtoCongressin2007. He reportedly entered the yearwithmorethan$1.1min campaign funds as he preparedtoseekaninthterm intheUSHouse.

Israeli air strike destroys Iranian consulate in Syria - state media

building from the direction of the occupied Golan Heights at about 17:00 local time (14:00 GMT). Syrian airdefencesshotdownsome of the missiles they launched, but other missiles made it through and “destroyed the entire building,killingandinjuring everyone inside”, the ministryadded.Theministry said work was under way to recover the bodies and rescue the wounded from underneath the rubble, without giving any information about their identities.

diplomats were among the dead,stateTVsaid.

Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reportedthatthe63-year-old was “active in the Quds Force” from 2008 to 2016 andservedascommanderof theRevolutionaryGuardsin SyriaandLebanon.

(BBCNEWS)AnIsraeli strike has destroyed the Iranianconsulatebuildingin Syria’s capital, Damascus, killing and wounding several people, Syrian authoritiessay A senior Revolutionary Guards commander BrigGen Mohammad Reza Zahediwasamongthedead, Iranianstatemediareported.

Pictures showed smoke and dust rising from the multistorey building, which was next to the Iranian embassy on a highway in the western Mezzehdistrict.

The Israeli military said it did not comment on foreignmediareports.

The Syrian defence ministry said Israeli aircraft targeted the consulate

IranianstateTVreported that those killed included Brig-Gen Zahedi, whom it identified as a senior commander of the Revolutionary Guards’ overseasoperationsarm,the Quds Force Several

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on a network of sources on the ground in Syria, reported thateightpeoplewerekilled -ahigh-rankingleaderofthe Quds Force, two Iranian advisers and five members of the Revolutionary Guards.

Israel has carried out hundreds of attacks on Iranian-linked targets in Syria in the past few years, b u t v e r y r a r e l y acknowledgesthestrikes.

Tim Walberg speaks during Cop28 in Dubai,United Arab Emirates

The Iranian embassy (left) does not appear to have been damaged in the strike on the next door consulate building

Bahamas

secures

gold,

silver in

U-17 Girls javelin; Jamaica

does

the same in U-20 Girls high jump; T&T’s De Gannes stuns in U-20 Girls long jump

Former National football...

From page 24

Tuesday April 02, 2024

ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19)

You'll notice that your emotions are coming to a monthly climax today, Aries. Don't be alarmed but do be cautious about lashing out at people for no reason. You may feel on edge.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

Extremes is the name of the game now, especially for you, Taurus. Today the emphasis is on action. You're the one to call to get the job done. You won't wait another second to simply go for it.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20)

Be adventurous and strike out into new territory, Gemini. Be a pioneer. Work to make some new discoveries in the world. Today isn't a day to worry about consequences.

CANCER (June 21–July 22)

Certain situations may be difficult to deal with today as they take an emotional spin, Cancer. You're getting anxious.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22)

You should find that the general mood of the day is favorable to your personality style, Leo. Take this opportunity to present more of your thoughts and ideas to the world.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22)

The fog has lifted and you're ready to take off, Virgo. The dreaminess you may have experienced lately has been nice, but now it's time to get moving again.

SportsMax - The Bahamas had an excellent start to yesterday’s day three of the 51st Carifta Games at the Kirani James Stadium in Grenada thanks to a dominant showing in the Under-17 Girls javelin throw.

Dior-Rae Scott, who won gold in Kingston in 2022 and silver last year in Nassau, returned to the top of the podium with an excellent new personal best and Carifta record 52.53m with her thirdround effort.

Her teammate, Kamera Strachan, had a best throw of 47.61m for silver while Jamaica’s Zoelle Jamel was third with 45.00m.

The Girls Under-20 high jump also saw a quinella, with Jamaica enjoying their own 12 finish this time around.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)

This is a terrific day for you, Libra, and you'll find that there is a great deal of power at your disposal. This is a day of new beginnings. You have the opportunity now to start over.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

The fire is raging today, so be careful, Scorpio. Try not to be too impulsive in your actions. Your natural tendency may be to lash out against others without really thinking about the consequences.

SAGIT (Nov.22–Dec.21)

Go for the gold, Sagittarius. Today marks the beginning of the rest of your life. Treat it with respect. You may be on a crusade and your combative instincts could be working overtime.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19)

You may feel as if someone is poking you today, Capricorn, urging you to get up and get moving. Don't be surprised if someone seems to be picking on you for no reason.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

This is a great day for you to get up on stage and make your presence known, Aquarius. Let people know that you're the leader of the pack.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20)

This is a good day to add spark to your life, Pisces. If things have seemed boring and stagnating lately, you may need to infuse a bit of excitement into the situation.

the Guyana Squad in 1974 at the Inter Guiana Games. He however first represented Guyana in 1975 at the Inter Guiana games football series in Georgetown. That team was captained by fellow Berbician and Cougars star player Oral Samuels.

Inniss made his senior international debut against Cuba national under 23 team at the GFC ground in December 1977. He continued to represent Guyana where he played in 1978. He was also selected in the national under23 team that was selected to engage the touring Kwangtung Province football team from China.

Inniss subsequently migrated overseas where he continued to ply his trade in the Education sector and as a footballer.

He played alongside former national stalwarts the likes of- Keith Niles, Vibert

Rasheda Samuels secured gold with a third-time clearance of 1.78m while her teammate Dejanea Bruce took silver with a best clearance of 1.76m.

Trinidad & Tobago’s Keneisha Shelbourne was third with 1.70m.

In the Under-20 Girls long jump, Trinidad & Tobago’s reigning NACAC U-18 champion Janae De Gannes produced one of the performances of the meet with a massive personal best 6.50m to win gold.

De Gannes only produced two legal jumps throughout her series, 6.50m in the first round and 6.40m in the second round.

Her mark also broke the Carifta U-20 record of 6.48m done in 2016 by Guadeloupe’s Yanis David.

Jamaica’s Rohanna Sudlow was second with 6.30m while Bahamian Lanaisha Lubin was third with 5.90m.

Butts, Terrence Nichols, Walter Prince, Earl O’Neal, Maurice Enmore, Patrick Barton, Aubrey Hudson, Vibert DeFreitas, Orin Nedd, Gordon Brathwaite, Wendell Sandiford, Bunny Anthony, Denzil Thompson, Oral Samuels, Kenneth Price, Marlon DeSouza, Clive Perry, Dennis Solomon, David Woodford, Keith Humphrey, Leonard Williams, Keith Smart, Lloyd Enmore, Rickford Belgrave, Joseph Alberts, Roger Alphonso, Kenneth Solomon and Trevor Gibbs, among others.

Inniss was also a coach in the school and national system. Kaieteur News joins the rest of Guyana, especially those in the teaching and sports fraternity more so football lovers, in expressing sympathy to the relatives and friends of the late football stalwart Granton “Silo” Inniss.

He was interned in Brooklyn, USA a week ago.

Dior-Rae Scott threw a new record of 52.53m on her way to gold in the Under-17 Girls javelin throw on day three of the Carifta Games in Grenada.

RHTYSC cricket teams honours outstanding teachers and students in Dropattie Ramsammy tribute to heroes programme

“We are pleased to honour you as heroes of the educational system in the Lower Corentyne area. The Rose Hall Town Youth and SportsClubstronglybelieve in the promotion of education as it is the root of success.” Those were the words of Secretary Hilbert Foster as he addressed the presentationceremonyofthe Dropattie Ramsammy tribute to outstanding teachers and the Seenarine Memorialtributetostudents programmeonThursdaylast at the Saint Francis Community Developers traininghall.

The cricket teams of the RHTYSC hosted the programme with the sponsorship of overseas based resident Dropattie Ramsammy Under the Seenarine memorial programme five students of the Lower Corentyne Secondary School were

honored as students of the year 2023 Students honouredwerethebestinthe respectivelevel.

Foster noted that all studentswereselectedbythe management of the school and urged them to always strive for excellence. The FormerBCBpresident,who has returned full time to the RHTYSC, stated that the club was pleased to work along with Ms Ramsammy as the Lower Corentyne Secondary School was very crucialtotheoverallsuccess theclubscricketteam.

P l a y e r s K e v l o n Anderson, Shawn Grant, Junior Sinclair, Micheal Rengasmi, Keith Simpson, Deeraj Ramjit, Sohil Mohammed, Nyron Hicks, Danielle Manns, Trisha Hardat and Natasha Subramanie are all products oftheschool.

The students honored were, Michael Smith grade

7,AmandaSampsongrade8, Afzal Nabi grade 9, Emmanuel Paul grade 10 and Tameshwar Nandlall grade11.Theyeachreceived a trophy, medal, framed certificate, an electronic tablet and a Mike’s pharmacy special gift package.

A total of 9 outstanding teachers were recognized under the Dropattie Ramsammy tribute to teachers programme The teachers were selected by their respective school as their best teacher for 2023 basedonperformanceinthe classroom personal, discipline,attendancerecord and relationship with students Those honored were Savitree Brijkumar Lower Corentyne secondary school, Nurmala Subramani Corentyne Comprehensive Highschool,CanbicaBarker

JC Chandisingh Secondary school, Mark Cyri Port

Guyana impress but edged out 5-4 by England at O45 Indoor Hockey World Cup

In the final of the Men’s Over-45 Indoor Hockey World Cup, held in Nottingham, England narrowlyedgedGuyana5-4 totakethetitle.

G u y a n a h a d a n impressive unbeaten streak leading up to the final, securing victories in the group stage against Canada (10-2) and Wales (6-5), as well as a notable 7-4 win againstEngland.

In the semi-finals, Guyana clinched a hardfought 3-2 victory over France, courtesy of a brace fromteamCaptainJerazeno Bell and a lone goal from AllanFernandes.

In the final, Devin Hooper opened the scoring forGuyanawithafieldgoal eight minutes into the contest, giving them a 1-0 lead.

H o w e v e r, A n d y Langland responded strongly for England, nettingtwoofhisfivegoals before the end of the first half,leavingthescoreat2-1 infavourofEngland.

As the second half commenced, Dwayne Scott showcased his skill with a hat-trick (at minutes 31, 35, and 36), propelling Guyana to a 4-2 lead as the clock tickedaway.

Langland concluded his remarkable performance

with a ‘glut’ of five goals, scoring three consecutive goals.

Hestruckfirstinthe37th minute from a penalty corner,followedbyback-toback field goals in the 38th and40thminutes.

As a result, Guyana had to settle for second place, whileGermany,France,and Wales completed the top threepositions.

Australia secured the sixth position, followed by Bangladesh in seventh place.

Alliance and Canada occupied the eighth and n i n t h p o s i t i o n s , respectively, in the tournament.(RawleToney)

Mourant Secondary, Karen Marks Singh Rose Hall Primary, Zaman Ahsidally Port Mourant Primary, Elisha Singh Belvedere primary,KamachePasramen RoseHallTownnurseryand Nessa Balram Ankerville Nursery

The teachers, who were treated to lunch after the ceremony, each received certificates, a medal, trophy, an electronic tablet and Mike’spharmacyspecialgift package.

Foster hailed the awardees as positive role models in the educational system and congratulated themonajobwelldone.He urged them to uphold his standards they said themselves and also called on them to share their experience with the rest of the teaching profession Noting that teachers are

responsible for the development of every other profession, he urged the awardees to continue working hard as Guyana continues its path to development.

Sponsor Dropattie Ramsammy stated that she was delighted to sponsor the twoprogrammesasshewasa living testament to the power ofeducationandtheimpactof asupportivecommunity She urges students and teachers to never give up on their dreams and aspiration. She stated that education was a powerful key to unlocking doors of opportunity Ms Ramsammy, is a former student of the Lower Corentyne secondary school,sheisnowemployed as a registered nurse at the Jamaica medical hospital in Queens NY Shecommitted to sponsoring the two

programmesinthefutureand expressed gratitude to the cricketteamsfortheirsupport inorganizingtheevent

Te a c h e r Z a m a n Ahsidally expressed thanks to the RHTYSC and the sponsor for recognizing the efforts of teaching profession. Ahsidally stated that he was inspired by the award to do more in his job.

TheRHTYSCin2024plans to honour over 100 more outstanding Berbicians under its tribute to hero programme. The club plans to honour teachers, retired educators, fireman, law enforcement officers, postal workers, medical workers, social workers, sportsmen among others National cricketers Shemaine Campbell and Kevlon Anderson handed over the different awards to the awardees.

Jairam wings out tomorrow for Pan Am Draughts Championship in Costa Rica

Draughts format played on the 100 square boards, Mr Jiaram,

tomorrow, WednesdayApril 4th, 2024,

in the

Draughts Championship in CostaRicaforbothmenand women.

The games would be playedfromApril5thto13th, 2024 at the prestigious iconic Estadio National Stadium set in the lively La Sabana Metropolitan Park, San Jose Thisisthefirsttimethatlocal draught players are given the opportunity to play at that level,thankstoacontribution from the National Sports

Commission. Tickets for two were booked for San Jose but the other player, Mark Brathwaite, was involved in an accident on the East Coast Railway Embankmentcausingsevere lacerations to his leg and he cannot travel. The airfare is

transferable and nonrefundable leaving the Association in an embarrassing situation to replace the player The PresidentandVicePresident oftheAssociationisseeking theairline’sinterventioninto the refund. As at Thursday last the airline fare to Costa Rica stepped up to G$469,000perticket. Other cost towards the event includes US$100 to register your country, US$100 to enter the competition and US$20toentertheblitz.

Other contributions towards sponsorship were made by: Rubis Bel Air, Puran Bros Inc , Elias GentleAttorney at Law and M&MSnackette.

The 14 awardees pose with the RHTYSC executives and players Kevlon Anderson and Shemaine Campbell.

Tucber Park advance to semis in BCB/Premier T20 1st division tournament

- Women’s U19 trials set for April 3

Off-spinnerKwesi Mickle grabbed four wickets to help Tucber Park secure a spot in the upcoming semifinals of the BCB Premier T 2 0 1 s t D i v i s i o n Tournament.

At the Rose Hall Community Centre Ground, Rose Hall Community Centre Cricket Club was knocked over for 80 in 16.2 oversafterbattingfirst.

Senioroff-spinnerKwesi Mickleledthebowlingwith figures of 4-13 with support fromJoemalLaFleur2-22.

National youth player Zeynul Ramsammy led Tucber Park’s batting.

In reply Tucber Park raced to 81-3 after some 8 overs National Under-19 all-rounder Zeynul Ramsammy led the batting with 38, while Mickle and Malcomendedon5and8not outrespectively Thesemiswillbeplayed after the upcoming visit by formerWestIndiespacer,Sir CurtlyAmbrose. Also, the BCB will be hosting trials for all U19 female cricketers (born on orafterSeptember1st2004).

Spinner Kwesi Mickle grabbed four wickets for Tucber Park.

Players are asked to report at the Port Mourant Community Center Ground, on Wednesday 3rd April 2024 at 15:00h, ahead of preparation for the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Female U19 Inter-County tournament.

SLBA calls for greater investments in Youth Development Boxing Programmes in the Caribbean

Castries, St. Lucia - Over twentyfiveyoungboxersfromtheVieux Fort and Castries gyms, participated in a Preparatory Camp over the Easter weekend, as St. Lucia readies to host the 2nd annual Caribbean Champion of ChampionsBoxingTournament.

Seven countries including defending champions St. Lucia will be represented at thetournamentonApril12&13attheVigie SportsComplex.

ThePreparatoryCampwasorganisedby theSt.LuciaBoxingAssociation(SLBA)to bring the national team together and introduce boxers to a regime of tactical trainingandconditioning.

President of the SLBA, David Christopher, said the camp was extremely successful,asitmettheoverallobjectives.

He added, “We are excited about the interest and improvements among several young boxers who will represent St Lucia against their regional counterparts at Champion of Champions ”

The SLBA President also acknowledged major strides is being made with Youth Development Programmes in Trinidad, Guyana, Antigua, Martinique, Guadeloupe, BarbadosandtheBahamas

He said, “All these countries have submitted teams of young boxers for the upcoming tournament, and St Lucia is excited to give our young boys and girls the opportunity to match-upandgetsome

David Christopher

ring time.” Christopher further encouraged regional Government’s and the corporate sectortoincreasesupportfornationalboxing programmes, as they help create better citizensandpotentialchampions.

TheSt.LuciaBoxingAssociationinvites citizens to support the Champion of Champions Tournament, which promises excitingactionandentertainment.

Belltimeis6pmnightly

Moen Gafoor prevails over James Krakowsky for Scrabble honours

Michael Benjamin $US50 richer

Moen Gafoor defied a 3rd round loss to his nemesis, James Krakowsky, by a spread of 48 and rebounded to clinch top honours when the Guyana Association of Scrabble Association Players (GASP) staged the M&M Open Championship at Marshal Karramchan’s residence, Enterprise ECD, lastSaturdayafternoon.

Gafoor finished with 4 points and a positive spread of 515 toclaimthetopspot, relegating Krakowsky to 2ndplacewith4pointsanda positive spread of 354 Wayne Cave closed off the podiumspotsafteramassing 3 points and a positive spreadof298.

MichaelBenjaminfailed toregisterapodiumspotbut waltzed away with the US$50 prize for the competitor that played the bingo‘marshal.’

That play earned the former boxing champion 93 points and ironically was

played against Marshal Karramchan.

Gafoor and Winslow Jacobs both recorded 8 bingos apiece but it was the former player who got the nodafterscoringthehighest bingo among them, while Kamta Ramnarine clinched the trophy for the highest points accrued from a nonbingoword(74).

L i k e G a f o o r , Krakowsky also scored 4 points but amassed a lower spread of 354 to secure the second-place spot while Wayne Cave sealed off the final podium spot with 3 points and a positive spread of298.

In a truly competitive duel between Gafoor and Krakowsky, into the final sitting, the top prize was a throw-up between as both players demonstrated acute word-formingskills.

Gafoor had earlier surrendered his 3rd round gametoKrakowsky(48)and itseemedasthoughthelatter player, who up to the final

sitting had amassed an impeccable 4 points, would have cruised to victory Winslow Jacobs then burst Krakowsky’s bubble with a decisive victory (144) while Gafoor cruised past Robert Williams (132) which elevated his position while Krakowsky’s loss slid him intosecondplace.

Meanwhile,amemberof the Interim Management Committee, Roy Sharma, congratulated host, KarramchanMarshal,forhis exceptional organizing skills.

Sharma was high in praise noting that Karramchansurelywentthe extra mile to ensure that all systemswereinplacewhich resulted in an early commencement and smooth runningofthetournament.

T h e o rg a n i z i n g committee will soon release the date for the next championship and urges all playerstocontinueattending practicesessionstoimprove ontheirrespectivegames.

Gafoor (2nd L) shows off his hardware among other winners (L-R) Cave, Krakowsky, Ramnarine and Benjamin.

Edifying experiences await 150+ males and females as Pele FC Alumni Corp. Youth Seminar starts today

With well over

1000+ young people, both male and female already benefittingfromeducational investment by the Pele FC AlumniCorporationoverthe past decade, that rich developmental legacy is set t o c o n t i n u e

Overthenexttwo-daysfrom today, the Marian Academy will be added to this historical path when the 2024 edition of the nonprofit organization two-day seminar commences

Alumni Chairman, Denis Carrington along with his fellow executive members and a number of other past andpresentplayerswhowill a s s i s t w i t h t h e administration of the activity,saidtheyareallvery excited to continue this rich t r a d i t i o n

”Manyofmyexecutivesare back home in Guyana to continue what we have started many years ago. Doingthisseminarbringslot of joy to us, and affords us theopportunitytocontribute

to these youths by guiding them in the right path towards being serious about their education and personal development apart from having careers in whichever sport they choose ”

Carrington, a former national player like many of his fellow executive members, believes that the investment they have been making over the years, is paying encouraging dividends, citing that one of the young people who passed through the

Former National football stalwart and educator Granton

BySamuelWhyte

Those in the education sector and the Sports arena especially in the football spherearemourningtheloss of former national soccer starGranton“Sillo”Inniss. Inniss, who hails from the Savannah Park area, New Amsterdam, Berbice, diedafewweeksagoinNew York, United States of America following a period of illness. Inniss, a national footballer, who made his name in the forward position, was also a wellknown school teacher in Guyana.

He started his football career early on the grounds of Berbice where he and his brother were among others who dominated the game in the ancient county some years back Inniss, who hailed from The Savannah Parkarea,startedhisfootball

Inniss has

career playing with the popular Cougars football Club which was one of the top clubs in Guyana at the time. Hewentontoplayfor Berbice and subsequently Guyana which he did at various age levels before representing the senior national team on numerous occasions.

Inniss was a stalwart in hisheydays. Asastrikerhe playedattackingfootballand wasamenacetothedefence

died

as he dazzled his opponents and fans with his speed and skill on numerous occasions onthefootballfield.

He was a part of the BerbiceandGuyanateamsat atimewhenboththecounty andCountryfootballwereat itsbest.

Berbicewasaforcetobe reckonedwithatthattime,as Inniss plied his trade along withhisbrothersandothers, anumberofwhomplayedon many national teams, the likes of the Humphrey’s, Alphonso’s, and Samuels’s brothers Other fellow nationals like the Ford’s, Bowry, Jones, Chalmers, Kenneth Price and the late Rickford Belgrave and JamesPaulamongothers.

He was a prominent memberoftheGuyanateam duringthe1970s.According toinformationhewaspartof

(Continuedonpage21)

programmeandwhothePele FCAlumni Corp. supported with a monthly scholarship through his secondary years of education, is now studying to become a pilot. ”It’s stories like this and so many others that we are energised by and it empowers us to keep this initiative going. ”

Thefeatureopeningremarks will be delivered by President of the Tourism Hospitality Association of Guyana who is also a Director on the Protected

Areas Commission as well as a Co-Founder and Director of Herdmanston L o d g e

Amongtheareasthevarious presenters would be facilitating at the Seminar today and tomorrow, are Acceptable Social Behavior/Proper Decision Making, Self-Awareness, Conflict Resolution, Computer Literacy & Cyber Security – this will be a virtual presentation, Suicide and Mental Health, among o t h e r s

There will be a field trip tomorrow, Wednesday which will see the attendees visiting the Caricom H e a d q u a r t e r s

Meanwhile, the Pele FC Alumni held a successful day of football as they commemorated the 50th death anniversary of the passing of former President, FrankWatson.

The event took place at the GFC Ground on Thursday last and saw four matches including one female,contested.

Balgobin century propels Windsor Forest A into Jits & Neelam 40 Overs final

A fine century from Sachin Balgobin handedWindsorForestA,a130-runwinover Belle Vue when the teams collided in their semi final encounter of the Jits and Neelam 40-overtournamentinWestDemerara.

Windsor Forest A won the toss and decided to bat first, scoring - 286 for 9 from their allotted 40 overs. Balgobin slammed 124, Kishaun Tracy got 47, Killon Tracy 42 and Kenzo Baksh 33. Lucian Sam bagged 5 for33from8overswhileRandyRamrupand RyanSeecharranhadtwoeach.

BellevueSCrespondedwith155alloutin 32.3overs.

Lucian Sam made 48 and Kevin Plants 42. Lalta Suknanan bagged 6 for 24 from 8 overs

Previously, Windsor Forest CT A beat Leonora CC by 222 runs. Led by another century from Balgobin, Windsor Forest managed283allout33overs,battingfirst.

Balgobin struck 16 fours and three sixes in scoring 111, while Kenzo Baksh made 67 andMoneshGopie20.

Marlon Basdeo claimed 3 for 39 from 7 overs and Teddy Wong had 3 for 52 from 8 overs.

Sachin Balgobin

Leonora CC made 61 all out 13 overs in reply TeddyWonggot33asChatramNauth had3for3from2overs,RaylexPayne3for 21from5oversandManiramRagnauth2for 25from4overs.

In another encounter, Windsor Forest defeated MMZ Defenders by 206 runs with Balgobinscoringanothercentury

Flashback – the previous Pele FC Alumni Corp Youth Seminar had a massive turnout.

Former Teacher and National Football Granton ‘Silo’Inniss

Hinckson’s historic gold, Mixed Relay record the story for Guyana at CARIFTA 2024

BYRAWLETONEY

Athaleyha Hinckson’s historic gold in the 100m, alongside a record-breaking performance in the 4x400m mixedrelay,stoodoutasthe highlights of Guyana’s performance at this year’s CARIFTA Games, which concludedlasteveninginSt. George’s,Grenada.

Whenthecurtainsclosed on the 51st edition of the games,whichcommencedin 1972, Guyana amassed a total of eight medals – four gold, two silver, and two bronze.

On the championship’s final day, Hinckson narrowly missed securing a sprint double, settling for second place in the Girls

U17200mfinalswithatime of23.85s.

She crossed the line just behind Jamaica’s Natrece East, who clocked in at 23.74s, with Tyra Fenton (23 97s) of Antigua and Barbuda securing the third spot.Hincksonmadehistory bybecomingthefirstfemale athlete from Guyana to clinch victory in the 100m event at the CARIFTA Games. The achievement also places her alongside Compton Caesar in the distinguished ranks of Guyaneseathleteswhohave won gold in the 100m event attheCARIFTAGames.

Kaidon Persaud clocked 1:56.53 to secure second placeintheBoysU17800m

Guyana express interest in hosting 2026 CARIFTA Games

T h e A t h l e t i c s Association of Guyana (AAG) has expressed interest in hosting the CARIFTA Games in 2026, as revealed by Michael Sands, President of the North American, Central American, and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC).

During an exclusive interview with News Room Sport at the 51st Games in Grenada, Sands disclosed that bids were opened last yearinTheBahamasforthe hosting of the next three Games.

Successful bids were awarded to Grenada (2024), TrinidadandTobago(2025), and Barbados (2026)

However,Barbadosrecently withdrewtheirbidofferdue to facility readiness issues, prompting a reopening of bids.

Sands stated, “As a result,wereopenedbids,and thus far, Guyana has expressed interest ” He further highlighted that Guyana now has a window of 30 to 90 days to formally expresstheirinterest.

To be considered seriously,Sandssaidthatthe AAG needs to provide a letter from the Government of Guyana or a guarantor of sponsorship, after which their documentation will thenundergofullratification bythecouncil.

Previously, in 2019, it

was announced by NACAC that Guyana would host the 50theditionoftheGamesin 2022, later rescheduled to 2023 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, hosting rights wereultimatelyrelinquished afterbidswerereopened.

In January 2020, key NACACofficialsconducted a site visit at the National Track and Field Facility, West Coast Demerara, where they stressed the necessity for rehabilitation works on the track’s surface andotherimprovements.

In October 2023, the resurfacing of the synthetic track was successfully completedatacostofG$77 million.

finals, finishing behind Jamaica’s Keandre Kelly (1:56 31) but ahead of Alejandro Palmer (1:58.05), alsofromJamaica.

On the thrilling opening dayofthechampionship,the Kirani James Stadium was ablaze with excitement as Tianna Springer, last year’s CARIFTA Games U17 400m champion, showcased herexceptionaltalent.

Demonstratingwhyshe was hailed as the fastest in the Americas and the Caribbean in 2023, she seized victory in the U20 event with an impressive timeof52 31seconds.

At just 16 years old, Springer now holds the title of the fastest 400m time among U18 athletes worldwide this year, surpassing the USA’s Skylar Franklin’s time of 52.53 seconds set on March 22.

In Grenada, Springer surged ahead, leaving

Jamaicans Abigail Campbell (52.85s) and ShanqueWilliams(53 03s) to settle for second and thirdplace,respectively

Another standout Guyanese athlete, Narissa McPherson (54 72s), clinched fifth place in the event. Meanwhile, Malachi Austin delivered an impeccable performance in the Boys U20 400m finals, crossing the finish line in a Personal Best time of 46.35 seconds.

In a remarkable turn of events, Austin, the silver medallistinlastyear’sYouth Commonwealth Games’ 400m,outpacedthepre-race favourite, Jamaica’s Marcinho Rose (46 59s), who secured second place, while Joshiem Sylvester (46.93s) of Grenada settled forthird.

Austin, Springer, and McPherson later teamed up with Dh Neilson Gill to achieve a remarkable

feat, registering a blistering time of three minutes and 23 51 seconds (3:23 51), setting a new CARIFTA record in the Mixed 4x400m relay Grenada (3:29 19s) and Trinidad and Tobago (3:31 24s) secured the podiumspots.

Guyana’s two bronze medal came from Attoya Harvey, who has amassed five medals at CARIFTA over three Games and in theMen’s4x400mrelay

She crossed the finish line third in the 3000m event on Sunday, clocking in at 10:36 59s Harvey trailed behind Jamaicans Ashara Fraser (10:24 83s) and Kayden Johnson(10:04 44s)

T h e 2 3 - m e m b e r contingent representing Guyana will return home today, where a welcome ceremony will be hosted at t h e C h e d d i J a g a n InternationalAirport.

Jamaica’s Mixed 4x400m relay team re-instated after initial disqualification

SportsMax - Jamaica’s Mixed 4x400m relay team that was disqualified after finishing third on Sunday night has been reinstated, Sportsmax.

TVcanconfirm.

Jamaica’s team of Princewell Martin, Rickeisha Simms, Paul HenryandBritanniaBailey

hadinitiallywonthebronze medal in the relay that was wonindominantfashionby Guyana.

However, the team was disqualified after a Jamaican runner was accused of impeding a runnerfromanotherteam.

The Jamaican team managersfiledaprotestand

the decision went under reviewandthedecisionwas eventually overturned and the team re-instated.

Jamaica has officially been awarded the bronze medal after finishing in a time of 3:30.42.

Grenada won the silver medalafterfiningsecondin 3:29.19.

(L-R) Narissa McPherson, Malachi Austin, Tianna Springer and Dh Neilson Gill set a new Mixed Relay Record at the CARIFTA Games.

Team Guyana celebrate their second-place finish at the Over-45 Men’s Indoor Hockey

Kaidon Persaud finished second

Athaleyha Hinckson shows off her historic 100m gold, won in the Girls U17 finals.